The regular session ends in just over 2 weeks on Monday, May 19.  The biggest challenge before the state leaders is to figure out how to erase the $935 million dollar deficit.  The legislature leaders and the governor have been trading budget proposals.  They are trying to agree on what combination to use of budget cuts, reserves, shifts from other funds such as Health Care Access Fund and new revenue such as closing loop-holes in foreign operating corporations (FOC's). 

Caught up in the negotiations are the provisions designed to provide emergency funding for our schools:

• One-time $51 per pupil increase(cost ~$50 Million)
• Option to transfer another $51 per pupil from a district's capital account to its general fund
• ~$600,000 in additional reimbursement of kindergarten developmental screening
• Increase from 14 cents to 20 cents reimbursement for the school milk program

The finance conference committee is meeting and is going through the overall supplemental budget bill which includes the increase funding for education.  However because leadership has not agreed to the overall budget targets, the finance conference committee cannot act on any provision which has spending associated with it.  This has made the finance conference committee meetings fairly unproductive and frustrating for the members.