Thank you to Newton Asst. Superintendent for Human and Fiscal Service Russell Miller for explaining what legislation under consideration would mean for your district. Do you know how these bills would affect your district?

“Two significant pieces of legislation are currently being considered – both of which could have a dramatically negative impact on USD 373. First, after a number of years of not receiving any equalization aid for our Capital Outlay fund (building projects, maintenance, etc.), this program was re-established for the current year and we planned our budget accordingly. Having the additional resource for that fund allowed us to move some expenses around – which also helped us deal with some needed reductions in other areas. Unfortunately, late this week we have been informed that the Capital Outlay equalization aid (over $500,000 for us) will either be delayed, or significantly reduced, or both.

“Secondly, Senate Bill 71 (SB71) has been introduced in the Senate Ways & Means Committee, and it includes altering the formula used to determine equalization aid in the Local Option Budget. Such an action will reduce the state’s total LOB commitment by $39,000,000. This is a major problem…especially when the reduction is not just for future years, but right now.”

http://usd373businessbuzz.blogspot.com/2015/01/mid-year-cuts-in-school-funding-really.html?spref=tw