[Vision2020] School Budget Cuts Sought for FY 2010

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (February 26, 2009) Spokesman Review.

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Panel leaders say Idaho schools cuts needed next year
Betsy Z. Russell / Staff writer  
 
BOISE – The chairmen of Idaho’s House and Senate education committees – 
both of whom are Coeur d’Alene Republicans – called Wednesday for cuts in 
the state’s public schools budget next year to avoid potentially deeper 
cuts a year later.

“We think a positive move forward would be to try to spread that out, 
possibly looking at some cuts in the 2010 budget,” state Rep. Bob Nonini 
told the Legislature’s joint budget committee.

State Sen. John Goedde said, “I would rather see small cuts in 2010 and 
small cuts in 2011 than nothing in 2010 and potentially $150 million in 
cuts in 2011 – $150 million is 10 percent of the school budget.”

The chairmen met Wednesday with legislative budget writers, who will set 
budgets for all state agencies after they receive more information about 
federal stimulus money and recommendations from Gov. Butch Otter on how to 
use it. 

Nonini said a $150 million shortfall for schools could occur in fiscal 
year 2011 if revenues remain flat, and all the state’s stimulus money and 
school reserve funds are spent to prop up this year’s and next year’s 
school budgets. If revenues continue to fall, the 2011 shortfall could be 
even higher, he said.

Both chairmen said they agree with Superintendent Tom Luna that through 
any budget cuts, Idaho must try to maintain students’ contact time with 
teachers. “The students don’t get a second chance – they’re moving through 
the system,” Nonini said.

Luna was in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to meet with federal officials, 
including Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, to 
get more information about the stimulus funding. He plans to report on the 
results today.

Nonini and Goedde said the stimulus includes specific funding for a 
student data system that Idaho needs, and they recommended taking 
advantage of that funding. They also said the stimulus could help fund the 
Idaho Education Network, a statewide effort to extend broadband 
connections to schools.

Nonini also pointed to funding meant to avert tuition and fee increases at 
state colleges and universities. “We need to do everything we can to make 
sure that the universities aren’t raising fees to where we get to the 
point of diminishing returns” and fewer students are able to attend, he 
said. 

Goedde said his committee reviewed $62 million in proposed budget cuts for 
public schools that Luna outlined earlier – before the stimulus bill 
passed – and had concerns about one, a plan to eliminate an early 
retirement incentive for teachers to save $4 million. It might actually 
cost the state up to $9 million, he said, when experienced teachers opt 
not to retire and be replaced by lower-paid newer teachers.

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Seeya in the bread lines, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"What Teachers Make" by Taylor Mali
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJlzYrXd1pw



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