Jaquet pushes plan to tap unused fund balances for higher ed enrollment growth

Rep. Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, has proposed shifting $10 million from unused fund balances identified in an earlier state audit into higher education and community colleges, to cover part of the unfunded costs for their enrollment growth. “To me, this is probably the best investment that our committee could make with regard to economic development right now,” Jaquet told JFAC. “We have some pretty scary kinds of data that tells us about what’s happening in our state. … We really can’t afford this brain drain.” She added, “This is one-time money.” The money is from two accounts at the Veterans Services Division, and the division supports the move, Jaquet said, distributing a letter from the division. Rep. Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian, said he opposes the move, because the division’s letter suggests it could perhaps make use of the money.