Appropriations committee backs change to school major-maintenance formula, 5-2

The House Appropriations Committee voted to pass Senate File 34 after public testimony from district and statewide school leaders about how the bill would change major maintenance funding for K-12 facilities.

Supporters said the measure would increase the square-footage calculation used for major maintenance and raise the routine-maintenance percentage in the block grant, allowing districts with excess or aging space to cover additional upkeep. "This calculation would help us cover approximately an additional 75,000 square feet, allows us to take care of some major components," said Dave Bartlett, associate superintendent for Campbell County School District, who testified in favor of the bill.

The bill matters because Wyoming school funding for facilities ties allowable major-maintenance dollars to a district's student population (ADM) and a per-building square-footage formula. Many districts with declining enrollment nevertheless still must maintain large or aging buildings, speakers said.

What the committee heard Dale McComey, director for the State Construction Department, explained the mechanics to the committee and the bill's effect on existing calculations: "So, this bill would raise that from 15 to 135, that's where the extra square footage would come from," he said, describing the interaction of the ADM-based square-footage calculation and the percentage added on top for routine needs. Boyd Brown, executive director of the Wyoming Association of School Administrators, told members the bill would reduce deferred maintenance in many districts but said fully funding 100% of square footage would be preferable in his view.

Committee members questioned whether the ADM-driven formula encourages districts to consolidate or mothball buildings and whether separate treatment for routine and major maintenance would be clearer. McComey and witnesses described national-standard approaches and the historical reduction of the calculator from much higher multipliers in prior decades, explaining the policy trade-offs behind incentivizing right-sizing district facilities.

Formal action and follow-up Representative Harrelson moved to pass the bill; Representative Aleman seconded. Roll call on Senate File 34 recorded: Aleman, Angelos, Harrelson, Pendergraft and Sherwood (via absentee) voted aye; Representative Smith and Chairman Bair voted no. The committee announced the motion carried with five yes and two no votes.

The committee recorded a procedural note to coordinate follow-up with Representative Landon Browns school finance committee contacts to ensure continued jurisdictional coordination on the measure.

Context and next steps Witnesses noted the proposal would increase routine-maintenance funding in the block grant by an estimated $5,000,000 based on the fiscal detail presented to the committee. Members did not adopt further amendments in committee; the bill will move forward per the committee referral process.