Committee reviews K–12 funding bill with per-pupil increases, bid-threshold changes and school-construction loan transfer

Committee members reviewed a K–12 funding and school construction bill (referred to in committee as 13 69) that sets per-pupil payments, adjusts procurement thresholds and directs a transfer to the school construction loan fund.

Senator Shively told the panel: "It sets the, the per pupil payment for $11,293 for the first year of the biennium and $11,519 for the second year of the biennium." He said the bill as engrossed carried a fiscal note reflecting about a $91,000,000 increase under a 2-and-2 per-pupil schedule. Shively also described changes in procurement rules: "Section 3 and 4 are bidding thresholds... Now, goes to over $250,000 of both of them," raising the dollar thresholds that trigger formal bidding.

Shively said the bill removes a 12% cap on new local levy money tied to 60-mill levies and that removal has ramifications if the state adopts a different property-tax cap elsewhere. He also explained a policy change moving $75,000,000 from the Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund to the school construction revolving loan fund, and proposed raising that transfer to $100,000,000 in amendments he intends to offer.

The sponsor indicated he may propose a 3-and-3 per-pupil payment schedule in conference, which he estimated would reduce the net fiscal change from the 2-and-2 baseline (a 3-and-3 would translate to roughly a $46,500,000 increase rather than $91,000,000). Committee members said the bill will be revisited in committee the next day to reconcile tax-relief proposals and other policy changes.

Ending: No final vote was taken; sponsors will prepare amendments and return with updated fiscal figures and language for further committee consideration.