House Budget Targets Released, Budget Bills Expected This Week

SECOND DEADLINE PASSES

The second committee deadline officially passed on Friday, April 8, which means that committees will now assemble major appropriation (omnibus) bills. Policy committee hearings will be less commonplace, as they are no longer able to take official action on bills. The third deadline, which applies to omnibus bills, falls on Thursday, April 21.

HOUSE BUDGET TARGETS RELEASED, BUDGET BILLS EXPECTED THIS WEEK

This week the House released committee budget targets. The House Education Finance Committee has a zero target, meaning the committee must live within the current budget adopted last session. The target does allow however for the expenditure of approximately $50 million of additional K-12 spending offset by allowing school districts in the maximum effort loan program the option of early repayment of these loans. The House budget documents also show that $7 million of this savings will go towards expanding broadband internet access for schools.

Senate leadership is still working on budget targets and will likely release them early next week. The House Education Finance Committee will be releasing its budget bill this week. It’s highly possible the Senate E12 Budget Division will also release its budget bill this week but not unconfirmed yet.

DETAILS OF GOVERNOR’S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS INTRODUCED

The Governor’s budgetbillwas released this week. As a reference, attached is the summary of his recommendations release in early March. The bill provides us more details on the Governor’s preK proposal. One concern is the formula for preK laid out in the bill. As written, school districts would only receive .412 per adm in funding if the program is 350 hours. As programs increase their hours, they would receive more per adm and up to .6 adm for between 510 to 850 hours of programming. We have concerns about the impact this formula has and are trying to work to address concerns.

MINNEMINDS BILL MOVES FORWARD

The Senate E12 Budget Committee heardSF2411, which proposes to increases funding for early learning scholarships. Unlike the hearing and testimony in the House hearing, no discussion was had and know amendments were moved forward to freeze funding for Pathway II scholarships.

OTHER BILL HEARINGS OF INTEREST

On Tuesday, the Senate Education Finance Committee heardlegislationto increase the ECFE home visiting levy and also add state aid to this funding formula. Steve Kerr, from Anoka-Hennepin, testified in support of the bill.

On Tuesday, the House Education Finance Committee heardlegislationto allow school districts to create an early learning coordination program and use their ECFE and school readiness funding for these purposes. We have concerns about this proposal and are working with the author, Rep. Jenifer Loon, to try amend these provisions to address our concerns.

On Wednesday, the committee heardlegislationto establish a voluntary 4-year old pre-k program. The bill originally called for statewide preK but during the hearing, the author of the bill amended it to reflect the Governor’s preK recommendations. Annette Sallman from Stillwater School District, testified on behalf of community education.

On Thursday, the Senate Education Finance Committee heard abillbrought forward by MCEA to increase the general community education levy. Lisa Greene from the St. Louis Park School District, testified on behalf of community education.

Valerie Dosland

Director of Government Affairs

Ewald Consulting

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