I’m not sure whether a program financed by taxes (either existing tax revenue by cutting other spending or additional tax revenue by raising taxes or both) has to lead to inflation. Could you elaborate on that point?

It’s certainly possible for certain tax increases to affect everyone or nearly everyone and consequently lead to a rise in the cost of living and inflation. Increasing the sales tax would certainly seem to increase the cost of living, making the stipend worth less. That is not the only way to finance such a program, though.