At the heart of it, the state?s budget is about the people and the services they depend on, from public safety to mental health, education, and other vital programs and services. For the past year, I?ve been working with my Senate Appropriations subcommittee chairs, along with our counterparts in the House, to write a budget that is driven by the philosophy that the budget is not just a spreadsheet about money ? it?s about people and how these investments impact lives and shape our state?s future.