Committee orders interim study on ways to raise revenue for education after members cite shortfall
Loading...
Summary
HB1579, to form a committee to study revenue options for additional education spending, was referred to interim study 18–0; proponents argued the root problem is insufficient revenue, noting property taxpayers pay about 72% of district costs while the state contributes about 21%.
The Education Funding Committee unanimously voted 18–0 to send HB1579 to interim study. The bill would establish a committee to study methods for increasing revenues to enable additional spending on education.
Representative Fellows, speaking in favor of interim study, said the legislature has repeatedly examined distribution of adequacy aid but the underlying problem is a lack of revenue. Citing the committee record, Fellows said property taxpayers currently cover about 72 percent of the cost to run local school districts while the state contributes roughly 21 percent. He also noted that the base per‑student cost set in 1999 was $3,595 and, adjusted for inflation to the present, would be about $6,183 per student.
Fellows argued the interim study would gather bipartisan information on revenue options without endorsing a particular approach. After brief discussion the committee approved the motion and placed HB1579 on consent.
The committee closed the bill and moved on to remaining items.
