JFAC hears overview of public school support budget as attendance, support units and federal funds shift funding needs

BOISE — The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 4 received a high-level briefing on the state’s public school support budget, covering roughly $2.7 billion in general-fund spending, the mechanics of how Idaho pays districts and charters, and several proposed statutory changes that could shift where some money is budgeted.

Jared Tetrault, deputy division manager with the Legislative Services Office’s Budget and Policy Analysis Division, told the committee the public school support program covers traditional districts and charters and is driven by formulas in Idaho Code Title 33 and by the state constitution’s obligation to establish a “general, uniform and thorough system of public free common schools.” He said most distributions are made by funding support units and by salary-based apportionments such as the career ladder and discretionary funds.

Why it matters: Changes in how students are counted and in one-time federal funding have reduced the number of state-funded support units and reshaped the state appropriation this year.

Key points and figures

- State funding overview: Tetrault described the “big sheet” summary showing the original appropriation, agency request and governor’s recommendation. He reported roughly $2.65 billion to $2.8 billion in general-fund support for public schools across recent…