Senate Education Committee passes amendment shifting school capital construction to local communities with mandatory state equalization

The Wyoming Senate Education Committee on Feb. 3 passed Senate Joint Resolution 6, a proposed constitutional amendment that would return primary responsibility for school capital construction financing to local communities while providing mandatory state equalization.

Senate Joint Resolution 6, introduced and explained in the committee by Senator Scott, would overturn parts of the Campbell-era court guidance on state responsibility for school capital construction and revive a bond-based system with a mandatory equalization feature. "The bill is School Capital Construction Constitutional Amendment," Senator Scott said when outlining the measure to the committee.

Why it matters: Backers said the existing framework has become unsustainable after the loss of historic federal coal lease bonus revenues used for capital projects. Senator Scott argued the state must restore a local financing mechanism while ensuring equalization so districts without local wealth are not left behind. Opponents — including school board and district officials — said the change risks creating two classes of taxpayers and could shift substantial costs to local voters.

Committee…