Bills spare schools from ten percent cut

Air Date:03/09/2011

By Jackelyn Severin

Two bills that save education from a full ten percent cut are on their way to the Governor’s desk. If both Senate Bill 152 and House bill 1110 are signed by the Governor schools will see a 6.6 percent cut in funding for fiscal year 2012.

Senate Bill 152 maintains property tax levies at current levels while House Bill 1110 provides an extra 12 million dollars to school districts. Lawmakers on the appropriations committee say the extra 12 million comes from higher than projected revenues and is a one-time payment.  House Majority Leader David Lust says lawmakers have heard the public’s pleas and worked hard to help school districts.

“It may not be as much as many of us would like but it’s a prudent course to take and its what we have available to us.” says Lust 

House minority leader Bernie Hunhoff says although this a good effort to help schools it still does not do enough for education funding. He says republicans and democrats need to work together and come up with a plan that addresses school funding in the long run.

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