The Idaho Education Association has issued a statement that
there is “more than enough money” to avoid proposed cuts in public schools next
year, between federal economic stimulus funds and state budget reserves. “Idaho is eligible to
receive more than $300 million for K-12 public schools from the stimulus
package. We also have two rainy day funds totaling more than $250 million that
could offset budget shortfalls,” IEA President Sherri Wood said. “Investing in
our children and their education is the best way of guaranteeing a stable
economy for our state and for our country. … It is imperative that we explore
every avenue possible to find the financial resources needed to provide our
students a quality education.”
The statewide teachers union called for making use of the
Public Education Stabilization Fund, which contains $114 million; stimulus
funds; and $67.3 million from the state’s general budget stabilization fund –
47.9 percent of what’s in that fund, because public schools comprise 47.9
percent of the overall state budget. Yesterday, state schools Supt. Tom Luna
called for holding onto the $114 million reserve fund to cover any future
budget shortfalls, and said he thinks the stimulus money isn’t enough to avoid
up to $62 million in cuts he’s proposed for public schools next year. Here’s a
link to my full story in today’s Spokesman-Review.
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.