The Workers Compensation Commission approved a fiscal year 2015 and its FY 2016 budget requests Friday, seeking additional funds for the current fiscal year and a better than two-fold increase in next fiscal year’s funding.
Commission Chairman Troy Wilson and Executive Director Rick Farmer said the additional funding will be necessary to deal with an anticipated increase in caseloads.
Earlier this month, the number of claims filed with the commission exceeded the number filed with the Court of Existing Claims.
The commission is seeking an additional $721,291 for FY 2015, the current fiscal year, including $521,291 directly related to additional staff and operational costs.
A total of $7.0 million is being sought for FY 2016, an increase of $4.5 million over the $2.5 million appropriated for the current fiscal year.
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