Legislative budget writers expressed some concerns this morning about the lack of detail state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra provided to them. “I’m a little bit nervous about the budget as you talked about it,” said Sen. Roy Lacey, D-Pocatello. “You were talking about we’ll see where you fund us to see what you’re going to do. Ordinarily we have an idea of what is going to happen. So are you waiting on legislation, are you waiting on information to get us some good solid figures?”

Ybarra responded, “I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking me. Are you asking about a particular program?”

Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said, “I think he’s asking, in past presentations sometimes there’s a little more detail as to what the budget will entail. But we are in an awkward position because we have the state board’s recommendation (on the career ladder), and so we’re sort of in this awkward position of trying to determine whether or not legislation will come forth and how we budget to it, and of course that’s what we’re concerned about. Is that a fair characterization, senator?” Lacey responded, “That’s right, senator.”

Ybarra said, “Well I just want to reiterate that I am a firm believer in local control and allowing districts to make as many decisions as they can. And this budget I did inherit, and I did show that one of the highlights basically was operational funding, and increasing that based on their needs. But some of the items could change at any time, the career ladders, depending upon how you folks fund that.”