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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Second motion passes unanimously

Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, presides over the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Friday as it votes to protect public schools from budget cuts this year, though schools face even bigger cuts next year. (Betsy Russell)
Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, presides over the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee Friday as it votes to protect public schools from budget cuts this year, though schools face even bigger cuts next year. (Betsy Russell)

The second motion in JFAC this morning, from Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, has passed on a unanimous, 19-0 vote. "This motion restores the money to public schools that was taken in the previous motion," said Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. "It is totally restored, $86 million." Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, said, "Public schools will be held whole for the remainder of 2010. That did result in our taking some $30 million-plus in stimulus funds from 2011 for the public schools, so that's a fairly significant detail that we will have to deal with in the 2011 budget." Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, said she's concerned that the moves "create something of a shell game," allowing some to argue that when money that's been cut is restored, it's an increase. "That gives me pause," she said. But all committee members present supported the motion, which puts $140.6 million back into the budget through various shifts, including the $86.2 million for public schools.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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