A proposed education budget has awaits Senate approval, after the House gave it the OK last week.

The budget, despite facing stressful economic conditions, looks to have avoided any significant reduction.

“It’s basically level funding,” said Rep. Alan Boothe D-Troy.

“The primary objective in formulating that budget was to save teacher jobs.”

If lawmakers see the budget through, Pike County should not lose any state-funded teaching jobs next school year.

Many locally funded teaching jobs however, will probably have to be addressed by individual school systems.

Marcus Paramore, Director of Government Relations for Troy University, said under the circumstances the budget is sufficient at the higher education level.

“We always like to see more funds, but we understand the economic times we’re in,” he said.

Paramore said that Troy University has always been a proponent of properly funded city and county school systems, as well.

“We’ll continue to push for it,” he said.

The House approved the budget unanimously by a vote of 104-0.

The federal budget is due to come out late in the month.