School State Aid (audio)

Air Date:03/11/2010

By Eryn Clement

The State House and Senate are unable to agree on plans for changing state aid to school districts. Senate bill 22 provides for a no increase in state financial aid to schools next year. A committee of senators and representatives met to negotiate a compromise but are unable to agree.  Due to the disagreement, the current law which gives schools a 1.2 percent funding boost next year stays in effect. Governor Mike Rounds proposes in his budget that schools receive a zero percent increase for general and special education. Senator Ben Nesselhuf says it’s important to keep the school district’s best interest in mind.

“The only way that I’d ever be willing at this point to go with a zero, an absolute zero percent would be if we had some deal made that changed the formula to make certain that we don’t wind up in a situation again where we have school boards that feel that their only option is a court remedy,” says Nesselhuf.

Schools will likely not receive an increase if lawmakers don’t put extra money in the state budget.

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