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Senate panel hears bill to incentivize countywide multi‑district school cooperation
Summary
House Bill 567 would expand multi‑district agreements and create a state‑paid incentive equal to 50% of the quality educator payment for counties where every district joins a countywide sharing agreement. Supporters said the change would help small rural districts save on local property taxes; witnesses warned the incentive likely won’t produce state costs until districts organize.
Rep. Brad Barker, sponsor of House Bill 567, told the Senate Finance and Claims Committee the bill would "expand the use of multi district agreements and provide an incentive for a 50% kicker and quality educator pay" if every school district in a county forms a countywide agreement to share resources.
Proponents framed the bill as an efficiency tool. Lance Melton of the Montana School Boards Association, speaking for a coalition of school groups, said the proposal builds on arrangements already in place and is designed to keep control and expenditures within participating districts. Melton said he expects few counties to be…
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