Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed $5 million increase to the state’s Opportunity Scholarship fund, bringing it to a total of $15 million, came in for questioning in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee today; Otter also is proposing legislation to allow up to 20 percent, or $3 million, of the scholarship fund to be used for “adult completers” who are returning to finish their degrees. Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, asked, “Is that request contingent on that legislation coming forward?” What would happen, she asked, if the bill didn’t pass?

“The request of $5 million was developed before the governor’s proposed legislation,” responded Matt Freeman, executive director of the Office of the State Board of Education. “We support the legislation, and it would be a companion piece to this. If the legislation was not passed and this budget recommendation did pass, then the full $5 million would go toward opportunity scholarships.”

In fiscal year 2018, the state board received 4,055 applications from eligible Idaho students, but put 1,780 of them on a waiting list because there wasn’t enough money to give scholarships to all of them.