Panel trims transportation funding increase to $2 million and advances bill
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Summary
The division amended House Bill 12/14 to reduce the projected transportation cost increase to $2,000,000 and approved a do-pass recommendation. The change is part of a move to incorporate school transportation into the funding formula so future transportation costs rise with per-pupil payments.
The Appropriations - Education and Environment Division amended House Bill 12/14 to reduce the short-term transportation funding increase to $2,000,000 and voted to advance the bill.
Senator Shively framed the bill as the product of an interim study on how best to fund school transportation, with the goal of folding transportation costs into the regular K‑12 funding formula. That, he said, would make transportation funding automatic as per-pupil payments change, rather than relying on ad hoc appropriations each session. The amendment on the table (page 2, line 12) reduced the bill’s factor so the initial cost increase is $2,000,000 instead of a larger figure previously discussed.
Committee members approved the amendment and then voted to give 12/14 a do-pass recommendation. The committee recorded the passage of the amendment and moved the bill forward unanimously.
Why it matters: Including transportation in the funding formula would make future transportation costs an ongoing part of per-pupil funding, stabilizing how districts plan bus routes and pay for drivers and buses.
