House education committee advances bill to raise charter school facility funding cap to $500 million

The Idaho House Committee on Education voted to introduce RS 32,388 on a voice vote, advancing a proposal to raise the cap on charter school facility funding from $200,000,000 to $500,000,000 and to simplify the formula that determines how the cap is applied.

Representative Doug Pickett, who presented the request summary, told the committee the proposal responds to concerns raised earlier in the session during a presentation on charter school facility funding. "You're all aware public charter schools are public schools," Pickett said, and he argued the bill would improve charter schools' access to facilities by lowering borrowing costs and reducing overhead tied to interest payments.

The bill would change both the dollar cap on the program and the formula used to allocate that cap, Pickett said. He said the current $200 million cap and the way it is computed have been constrained by recent school funding legislation affecting property tax and sales tax mechanisms. The bill's sponsors intend the changes to produce better interest rates on charter school bonds and to ensure appropriated dollars reach students with fewer financing costs.

Representative Mendyev moved to introduce RS 32,388; the motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded roll-call tally. Committee members did not record amendments during the floor introduction.

Pickett noted this item followed an earlier informational presentation to the committee and presented the proposal for formal introduction; the committee did not take final action on the underlying policy or appropriations during the session.

The committee chair reminded members the committee will meet the following day in the Lincoln Auditorium for additional presentations from the Idaho School Boards Association and others.