Legislative committee hears DPI estimate that universal free school meals could start near $133 million for next biennium

Lynell Johnson, director of child nutrition and food distribution at the Department of Public Instruction, briefed the E & E Committee on a proposed ballot initiative to provide universal free school meals, offering a working cost estimate and explaining how federal and state funding would interact.

Johnson said the current reimbursement framework means the federal government pays a baseline amount for reimbursable meals (about $2.46 for a free breakfast and $4.69 for a free lunch under this year’s USDA rates). State policy that expanded eligibility to 225% of the poverty level (the “state 225” program) already increased state responsibilities to reimburse schools for certain students. Under the initiative scenario — in which the state would cover remaining meal costs for all students who are not federally eligible — Johnson offered a refined, preliminary estimate of roughly…