Idaho Governor Butch Otter wants to give public schools 31.69 million dollars more next year. That’s a 2.6 percent increase. Now it’s up to lawmakers to determine what the actual amount will be. One of those most responsible for that is Dean Cameron. The Republican co-chairs the legislature’s budget writing committee. Cameron says education is his top priority but…
Dean Cameron “We’re not able to do more than the governors asking for. And it will be a dilemma and a push to do what he’s recommending there.”
Democrats want a larger increase than the governor’s recommendation. Senator Nicole LeFavor who also sits on the budget committee says education is the state’s economic lifeline.
Nicole LeFavor “We have to support that lifeline better than we have. 31 million is hopefully only the beginning.”
Still the state’s Superintendent of Education Tom Luna calls that 31 million dollar increase good news.
Tom Luna “For the first time in four years we’re actually going to be talking about increasing spending on our public schools. We’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
The governor’s recommendation would pay for new expenditures in the Students Come First education laws. Those includes buying laptops for a third of high school students. But the governor’s increase is only about half what Luna had asked for. Otter’s budget does have another part that could bring education money closer to Luna’s request. Otter wants to use 41.1 million dollars to give one time bonuses to state employees. 26 million of that would be for teachers. That money would hinge on economic growth. It would kick in only if state revenues swing to a certain point. Republican Maxine Bell, the other co-chair of the budget writing committee doesn’t like it.
Maxine Bell “I don’t think there’s a state employee out there that should be satisfied with maybe a bonus. And I’m not satisfied with doing business that way either.”
Even if state employees get that money, for teachers it’s not exactly a bonus. It would mostly serve to offset last year’s cuts to state money for teacher salaries. And even if law makers pass a budget similar to the governor’s recommendations there remains a big “what if.” The education budget is built around the Students Come First laws which are up for a referendum vote in November. When asked what would happen if voters repeal the laws, the Governor’s budget director said he doesn’t know.