“GOP leaders and House and Senate budget committee members said lawmakers probably won’t increase overall state spending by the full $129 million that the state Department of Education estimates would cover deficiencies in aid to poor school districts.
The state could tap its cash reserves to cover all of the extra costs, but half a dozen key Republican legislators said they oppose such a move or don’t think the GOP-dominated Legislature would approve it. They said alternatives include shifting existing funds for public schools around or cutting other parts of the budget.
‘It’s not likely that we just whip out the checkbook and write a check off of the taxpayers’ account,’ said Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican.”
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2014/mar/13/davis-says-state-needs-come-129-million-schools-re/