State Board told PEA recommended 1% WPU increase atop statutorily required 4%; EAC to balance budget

Deputy Superintendent Scott Jones told the Utah State Board of Education that the Public Education Appropriations Committee (PEA) presented its funding recommendations to the Executive Appropriations Committee (EAC) and that EAC will begin detailed balancing work next week ahead of final motions in the last week of the legislative session.

Jones said the PEA asked for a 1% discretionary increase in the value of the Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) on top of a statutorily mandated 4% inflation adjustment, and that the 1% amounts to roughly $43,000,000. He asked board leadership to meet with EAC chairs to answer questions and press the board’s priorities before EAC finalizes motions.

Why it matters: motions EAC makes next week will determine which education funding requests survive a reported revenue squeeze and become part of the session’s omnibus funding bill.

Jones summarized next steps and timing. He said EAC members begin the detailed balancing process next week and typically make final motions during the last week of session; as of his briefing the legislature’s adjournment date was scheduled for March 7. He also flagged a media-reported revenue shortfall earlier in the week — characterized as roughly $110 million statewide, with about $75 million considered one-time and $35 million ongoing — that could force cuts or re-prioritization across state requests.

On specifics: Jones pointed the board to the PEA documents (ongoing request priority list, one-time request list, reallocations and appropriation adjustments, intent language) and noted staff were available to answer questions. He clarified an earlier internal rounding estimate for the 1% WPU amount (previously reported about $45 million) and said the finalized figure presented to EAC was approximately $43 million.

Jones and board members discussed the recommended timeline for board leadership to meet with EAC chairs and the practical effect of the budget balancing process. Board members asked whether board-approved funding priorities and carry-forward balances could be shared with every EAC member; Jones said the board’s leadership had scheduled meetings with EAC chairs and that a read-ahead would be provided for those chairs before meetings.

Board members and staff repeatedly noted that the PEA presentation to EAC is a recommendation and not final, and Jones reiterated that the board should plan for follow-up advocacy over the next two weeks if it wants to preserve particular items.

Ending: Jones urged board members to review the full PEA packet and to coordinate leadership meetings with EAC chairs next week; he said staff would provide requested, user-friendly lists of the board’s funding priorities to the chairs during meetings already scheduled for the coming Monday and Tuesday.