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Speaking Up For Schools New Construction Hasn’t Been A Priority, Simpson Tells Joint Committee Meeting

By Betsy Z. Russell betsyr@spokesman.com(208) 336-2854

Lawmakers could find state money to build new schools if they just made it a priority and looked in the budget, House Speaker Mike Simpson said Thursday.

Simpson, addressing a joint meeting of the House and Senate Education committees, proposed three alternative bills to match local property taxpayers’ spending on new schools. The committee also heard four other proposals on school buildings.

State lottery proceeds might be one funding source among many, he suggested.

“In Idaho, it is tougher to build a school building than anywhere in the nation,” Simpson said. That’s because Idaho is the only state that both requires a two-thirds vote to pass a school construction bond, and provides no state money to build schools. Local property taxpayers foot the full bill.

Simpson said he opposed state funding for school construction a few years ago, but he’s changed his mind. “We need to do something about facilities,” he said. “I think you could make some adjustments in the budget. You could probably find some money in there to do an assistance program.”

North Idaho lawmakers on the education committees had mixed responses.

Sen. Tim Tucker, D-Porthill, said, “It is gratifying to see that … the speaker has seen the light.” But Tucker, who has long pushed for state funds for school construction, said he has doubts now. “This is an extraordinarily tight budget,” he said. “I would hate to have a program put together and then die because it was underfunded.”

Rep. Carol Pietsch, D-Sandpoint, said she believes local property owners should pay for school buildings, and the state should pay for the education, the way it works now. “This is my basic philosophy,” though it might change, she said.

Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he likes the idea of state funding. “Like the speaker, I’ve sorta reversed my position on this,” he said. “When I drive through the corridors in Coeur d’Alene, I see all the state agencies have these new, modern facilities. … The state seems to be better at funding buildings.

“Then you compare Kellogg Middle School, which is one of the five best schools in Idaho - they have buckets in the hallways for leaky roofs. That troubles me.”

Rep. Wayne Meyer, R-Rathdrum, said he liked a proposal from Reps. Milt Erhart, R-Boise, and Dave Bivens, R-Meridian, that would allow fast-growing school districts to raise a little extra money for construction. But he was wary of Simpson’s proposals.

“He probably has better knowledge of the budget than I do, but I just don’t feel that excess is there,” Meyer said.

Simpson said the Legislature spent $450,000 to commission a study of school building needs statewide in 1991. In 1993, the results showed that Idaho needed more than $700 million in work just to bring its schools up to par.

“Quite frankly, we haven’t done anything,” he said.

The Legislature should take some action, Simpson said, even if that action is to declare that the current system is the best way.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Schools: Finding the money Here are the proposals for school construction funding: House Speaker Mike Simpson proposed House Bills 450, 451 and 452, which would match 25, 20 or 33.3 percent of local school bond money with sales tax revenues. State Superintendent of Schools Anne Fox discussed raising the sales tax to raise money for school construction. She hasn’t prepared legislation. Reps. Milt Erhart, R-Boise, and Dave Bivens, R-Meridian, outlined House Bill 397, a plan that would let growing school districts vote to fix their bond levy amounts after construction bonds are passed. Normally, as the district’s tax base grows over the years, each taxpayer’s share of the bond payment drops. With the rate fixed, each taxpayer would pay the same amount each year the bond is in effect. Rep. Doug Jones, R-Filer, proposed a bill to create a revolving loan fund administered by the state treasurer. School districts could borrow money from it for their construction projects, getting below-market interest rates. But the state would have to find money to put in the fund. Idaho’s school districts now owe about $400 million in outstanding bonds. Jones also proposed legislation to allow school districts to pass bonds that would be paid off by a surcharge on their residents’ personal income tax, rather than property tax. Businesses wouldn’t have to pay.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Schools: Finding the money Here are the proposals for school construction funding: House Speaker Mike Simpson proposed House Bills 450, 451 and 452, which would match 25, 20 or 33.3 percent of local school bond money with sales tax revenues. State Superintendent of Schools Anne Fox discussed raising the sales tax to raise money for school construction. She hasn’t prepared legislation. Reps. Milt Erhart, R-Boise, and Dave Bivens, R-Meridian, outlined House Bill 397, a plan that would let growing school districts vote to fix their bond levy amounts after construction bonds are passed. Normally, as the district’s tax base grows over the years, each taxpayer’s share of the bond payment drops. With the rate fixed, each taxpayer would pay the same amount each year the bond is in effect. Rep. Doug Jones, R-Filer, proposed a bill to create a revolving loan fund administered by the state treasurer. School districts could borrow money from it for their construction projects, getting below-market interest rates. But the state would have to find money to put in the fund. Idaho’s school districts now owe about $400 million in outstanding bonds. Jones also proposed legislation to allow school districts to pass bonds that would be paid off by a surcharge on their residents’ personal income tax, rather than property tax. Businesses wouldn’t have to pay.