More cuts to education....

Don't let the numbers fool you, there will be cuts.  Regardless of the posturing, the net impact will be great on many districts.  I spoke to a Superintendent from a small Treasure Valley district this afternoon. Even the best case scenario will mean a supplemental levy will be needed for his district to survive.

A consequence of this budget is that more and more district will have to go to their voters for additional money.   And read carefully, local voters will be asked to approve tax increases while the public education rainy day fund goes untapped. From Eye on Boise:

Luna noted, “We still have over $100 million available for the next fiscal year if revenues continue to go down.” That’s because Republican lawmakers on the joint budget committee declined to tap into the state’s public education stabilization fund, which still has $114 million in it.

The cuts in general fund support of public education total $109 million.

The cut is that large, in part, because Rep. Cliff Bayer successfully led a move to shift $20.5 million in general funds out of the school budget and replace it with federal stimulus money that otherwise would have been saved for schools next year.

This maneuver was quaintly called "backfill".  Isn't that cute? It was a shift, a move that eliminated available money for education and returned it to the general fund to be parceled out by JFAC to other areas.  Yes, I know other budgets are in need of relief also. However, this move does not demonstrate a commitment to use all appropriate resources to support public education.

It must be pointed out that two major cuts included in this budget will require new statutes before they can be made.  These areas are: 1) transportation reimbursement 2) salary reduction.  Both of these will need to be past out of committees and voted on by both the Senate and the House and then they must be signed by the Governor.  Today's inclusion in the budget is either an act of arrogance or an oracle of things to come. Feels like a steam roller to me.

Final plug for Betsy Russell.  Great final story. Watch the Idaho Reports tonight.  I will.