Dems offer alternative on school funding

Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Boise, is offering a substitute motion on the operations portion of the public school budget. The plan developed by a group  headed by the JFAC co-chairs for that portion of the budget shows a big decrease, as federal stimulus money goes away, but shifts various funds - including $22 million in additional endowment payouts approved by the Land Board this year - into school districts’ discretionary funding. “We’re moving almost $63 million in what had been dedicated funds into discretionary funds,” said Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Post Falls, in support of that proposal. “It should be an incredible help to school districts as they manage their operations.”

Ringo’s alternative adds in more money - $37.2 million - gained from delaying implementation of a grocery tax credit increase, putting off election consolidation, delaying an insurance premium tax reduction and tapping $3 million from the general fund for additional tax auditors who would bring in $20 million more in already-due taxes next year, for a net increase of $17 million from that move. It would result in an overall funding cut for schools next year of 5.3 percent instead of 7.5 percent. Ringo said she doesn’t want districts - especially rural ones - to have to lay off or furlough teachers. She noted that lawmakers haven’t addressed raising revenue to avoid such deep cuts to schools. “We’re offering ideas,” she said.