Rep. Green tells Solon Springs board lawmakers are negotiating a $1.3 billion property-tax relief package

Representative Green told the Solon Springs School District board that state leaders are negotiating a property-tax relief package the legislature hopes to finalize soon.

"We have a proposed $1.3 billion property tax relief package put together," Representative Green said, outlining what he described as a three-part split: about $200 million for the special-education fund, $450 million into general school aid to reduce levy pressure, and $550 million as a school levy tax credit. He said the state currently has roughly a $2.5 billion surplus and that negotiators were still working with the governor on recurring relief measures.

Why it matters: Board members said small districts often feel the brunt of property-tax increases and that recurring state support could make future referendums easier to pass. Representative Green said the package would both lower taxpayer burden and help make special-education funding more sustainable for districts.

Representative Green also described two other education items under consideration. First, lawmakers are again reviewing a bill that would restrict students’ mobile-device use beyond instruction time (a ‘‘bell-to-bell’’ proposal) though he said it was unlikely to pass this session. Second, he said the legislature removed a prior enrollment cutoff for a $2,500 merit scholarship, explaining that valedictorians at smaller schools will now be eligible without being subject to a school-size lottery.

Board members asked for follow-up as negotiations continue; Representative Green said he would update the district as details became available and noted a special floor day could occur in the near term.