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Senate approves $5.2 billion education base budget; sets initial WPU at $3,395
Summary
The Senate passed SB 1, the education base budget approximating $5.2 billion, setting the initial value per Weighted Pupil Unit (WPU) at $3,395 and moving the measure to the House after suspending readings.
The Utah Senate on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 1, the public education base budget amendments, advancing the Legislature’s initial education spending plan for the 2020 fiscal year.
Senator Hilliard, presenting the bill, described the base package as ‘‘basically the budget we did last year with some few changes’’ and said the base education budget is nearly $5.2 billion. He said the Legislature has increased the education budget by about $1.2 billion over the last four years and noted the initial WPU (Weighted Pupil Unit) value in this bill would be set at $3,395. Hilliard reported just under 600,000 students and outlined transfers from restricted accounts, local property tax revenue, federal funds and dedicated credits included in the bill.
Hilliard identified three minor adjustments from the prior year — a $211,000 transfer from the State Board of Education to the Treasurer’s Office for the Land Trust Protection Advocacy Act, a $59,000 public safety fee revision tied to background checks, and a $500,000 transfer related to suicide prevention and medical examiner provisions. He said about $65 million in one-time teacher and student success fund dollars used last year were incorporated back into the base as one-time items.
Under suspension of the rules and the constitutional three-reading requirement, the Senate voted by roll call and recorded 27 ayes, 0 nays and 2 absent. SB 1 was referred to the House for its consideration. The bill as adopted is a base-budget measure; the full funding growth and the final WPU decision will be addressed later in the session in House Bill 2, the final budget bill.
Next steps: SB 1 moves to the House, and the Legislature will consider HB 2 later in the session, where adjustments to the WPU and final education funding will be set.
