Legislature

The current status of school funding in the legislature is as follows: The Senate bill would cut funding, the House bill would keep it level, and the Governor proposes an increase via mostly QComp. Our lobbyists (Schools for Equity in Education, Minnesota Association of School Administrators, and Minnesota School Boards Association) report that legislators are not hearing from the public about the negative impact that flat funding or cuts will have on our schools.

Some ideas the legislature has under consideration: 1) tax and aid shifts, which means payments to schools are delayed into the next fiscal year. This idea has a cost to schools estimated at about $30 per pupil. Cash reserves are needed to cover costs plus there is a loss of interest on the fund balance. 2) A fund balance penalty, which means the state would reduce aid by some amount if a school district's fund balance exceeds a certain amount. Delano has a fund balance that we plan to use as a part of the three year budget plan. A fund balance cap could throw our current plan into disarray. 3) Cuts in state aid.

It is anticipated that any bill to raise taxes will be vetoed by the governor and the veto probably won't be overridden. Then the legislature goes into cut mode and education may not be spared.

I invite you to communicate with our legislators about the need for continued funding for education.

Sen. Amy Koch
Sen.amy.koch@senate.mn
651-296-5981

Sen. Warren Limmer
Sen.warren.limmer@senate.mn
651-296-2159

Sen. Gen Olson
Sen.gen.olson@senate.mn
651-296-1282

Rep. Tom Emmer
Rep.tom.emmer@house.mn
651-296-4336

Rep. Bruce Anderson
Rep.bruce.anderson@house.mn
651-296-5063

Rep. Jeff Johnson
Rep.jeff.johnson@house.mn
651-296-5511

Rep. Joyce Peppin
Rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn
651.296.7806

Rep. Steve Smith
Rep.steve.smith@house.mn
651-296-9188