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Senate advances $2.9 billion minimum school program budget (House Bill 1)
Summary
The Utah Senate uncircled and passed House Bill 1, appropriating a $2.9 billion FY2009 minimum school program-based budget (about $2.4 billion from the Uniform School Fund and $600 million local). The sponsor said the bill preserves salary and enrollment-growth commitments; the Senate passed the measure 27–0 (2 absent).
Under suspension of the rules, the Utah Senate uncircled and advanced House Bill 1, the FY2009 minimum school program based budget.
Senator Stevenson, sponsor, said the bill "appropriates a total minimum school program based budget of $2,900,000,000 in FY 02/2009," including about $2.4 billion from the Uniform School Fund and $600 million in local revenue to cover enrollment growth and educator salary adjustments. The sponsor said the measure funds previously promised salary adjustments and converts certain one-time payments into ongoing appropriation to prevent end-of-session impasses.
Senator Hilliard urged a two-thirds vote to make funding effective immediately so school districts that already paid raises would be held harmless. After debate, the Senate recorded 27 yes votes, 0 nay, with 2 absent; the bill was signed by the President and returned to the Speaker for final action in the House.
The bill includes line items for enrollment growth, WPUs, Social Security and retirement costs, charter school local replacement and other allocations detailed in the sponsor’s presentation. Senators described the passage as ensuring districts that advanced pay increases in reliance on prior commitments would be protected.
