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Kings Local warns of possible $2 million state funding reduction, lays out four requests to legislators
Summary
Superintendent Greg Sears told the Kings Local Board of Education on March 18 that under the governor’s proposed budget the district could lose approximately $2 million over three years and asked the community to press legislators on four specific requests.
Kings Local Superintendent Greg Sears warned the school board and community on March 18 that under the governor’s budget proposal the district faces an estimated $2 million reduction in state funding over three years and asked residents to help advocate with state lawmakers.
Sears and Treasurer John Morrow (transcript reference) said the district has circulated a four‑point form letter to local constituents and legislators that asks for: 1) a funding guarantee for growing districts so money is not reduced while enrollment and student needs increase; 2) an update to the state’s cost inputs (the district said the state still uses 2022 cost assumptions); 3) stronger categorical funding to better offset special education and English‑learner costs; and 4) changes to property‑tax relief rules that the district said would better help elderly and disabled residents and close an inequitable break for absentee or income‑producing property owners.
Sears and other district leaders said they are coordinating with local and state advocacy groups, keeping a contact list of legislators and committee chairs and asking the community to use the form letter and talking points to press for changes. The presentation noted the district’s example that categorical funding currently provides roughly $180,000 to cover English‑learner costs that the district says support a much larger population ‘‘than what that dollar amount covers.’’
Legislative liaison updates at the meeting referenced pending state bills in committee that could affect district programming, including House Bill 62 (changes to the College Credit Plus program), House Bill 54 (permits 12‑passenger vehicles for student transport in certain cases) and House Bill 28 (matters related to property tax levies and replacement levies). Board members said they have communicated with State Representative Adam Mathews, who the board reported as acknowledging community outreach and saying he is listening to the district’s concerns.
The board did not take formal action on the advocacy presentation during the meeting, but district leaders said they will continue to update the board and push advocacy work in the coming weeks.
