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Teton trustees track state recalibration, concerns over levies and school funding changes
Summary
Board members reviewed several bills affecting school finance — recalibration (Senate File 81), amendments on regional cost adjustments and voter approval for recreation‑district levies — and discussed implications for local mill levies and a $2.9M high‑school design funding request moving through the legislature.
Trustee Scarlett and finance staff briefed the board on multiple state bills that could change the district’s funding model. The discussion centered on a high‑profile recalibration package (referred to in the meeting as a version of Senate File 81 and related ‘rebase hedonic’ proposals), timing of ECA (education cost adjustments) calculations, potential changes to health‑insurance provisions and proposed voter‑approval requirements for recreation‑district mill levies (HB58 and related bills were referenced in committee discussion) (SEG 2212–2232; SEG 2222–2232).
Trustees emphasized the importance of protecting the district’s ability to use local mills for recreation and maintenance projects and urged staff to pursue amendments that would preserve the Wyoming Cost of Living Index (WCLI) or regional cost‑adjustment measures in the bill text. Scarlett outlined specific amendment priorities — three‑year average ADM for student counts, ECA cadence, and protections for local health‑insurance choices — and said the district is coordinating with WSBA and legislators (SEG 2260–2276; SEG 2310–2319).
In parallel, Trustee Scarlett reported that the district’s request for $2.9 million in design funding for a high‑school remodel has cleared initial committee steps and was moving forward with an inflation allowance atop the $21.8M construction ask (SEG 2306–2313). Trustees asked staff to continue advocating for WCLI language and to prepare talking points for legislators if amendments are introduced; staff confirmed they will monitor committee calendars and return with recommended actions.
