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Appropriations committee amends school finance bill, makes $38.1M one-time and removes $5.5M recurring element
Summary
After extended debate about long-term costs, the committee amended Senate File 34 to make the $38.1 million major-maintenance appropriation a one-time allocation and to remove a $5.5 million routine-maintenance increase; the amended bill passed 5–0.
The Appropriations Committee approved an amended version of Senate File 34, a school-finance and major-maintenance bill, after extended debate about biennialized costs and long-term effects on the school foundation program.
Senator Landon, who led the select committee that developed the policy, told members the bill would change allowable educational square footage in the K‑12 formula from 115% to 135% and increase the cost-replacement-value multiplier for major maintenance from 2% to 2.5%. The bill as drafted included a $38,100,000 appropriation tied to the square-footage change and a separate $5,500,000 increase for routine maintenance.
Senator Hicks described fiscal concerns and objected to biennializing the larger sums in the formula, saying that if the changes were baked into the formula they would double in the next biennium and could exacerbate an existing projected shortfall in the school foundation program. Several members urged a compromise. Senator Driscoll moved a divided amendment: make the $38,100,000 appropriation a one-year expenditure (division 1) and strike the $5,500,000 routine-maintenance increase (division 2). Division 1 passed on voice vote; Division 2 passed on roll call. The final, amended measure passed on roll call 5–0.
Director Dale McComley of the State Construction Department described the select committee’s facility-condition assessments and the long-term capital savings that could come from increased preventive maintenance. Committee members debated component funding, enhancement rules and whether districts’ preexisting enhancements should be eligible for state maintenance dollars; a motion to restrict funds for new enhancements was discussed and withdrawn after committee members noted that the Appropriations Committee’s scope is the appropriation rather than substantive bill text.
The committee asked staff and leadership to coordinate on referral practice and to consider the long-term budgetary implications before the bill reaches the floor.
