With just over a week until the session ends, we are in a wait and see mode.
Additional funding for our schools has been included in the overall supplemental budget omnibus bill. The Finance Conference Committee finalized the bill this week. As of now, the following emergency funding provisons still remain:
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One-time $51 per pupil (cost ~$50 Million)
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Option to transfer another $51 per pupil from a districts capital account to its general fund
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~$600,000 for additional reimbursements of kindergarten developmental screening
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Increase from 14 cents to 20 cents reimbursement for the school milk
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An increase in lease levy from $100 to $150 per pupil unit
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several other small funding provisons
Even with this additional funding, schools will only get about a 2% increase for next year. With inflation running closer to 4%, a majority of the schools districts will still have to make budget cuts. However, in these difficult economic times we have to commend the legislature for including increases for education.
Typically now the bill would be sent to the House and Senate floor for a vote. However, the bill has been put aside with the option to re-open it depending on the final negotiations between the governor and the legislative leaders. The fate of this desperately needed funding remains in their hands.
The governor is fishing in the opener this weekend in Brainerd so it may not be a very productive weekend for negotiations. Brainerd school district had a referendum that failed this fall and is now in the devastating process of dismantling a fine education system because of inadequate funding. Perhaps the governor could take a few moments and talk with some parents there. He would hear real stories about painful cuts that are taking place across the state and the importance of the additional funding for our schools to mitigate some of those painful cuts.
