Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District officials warn Senate budget language could force sale of underused school buildings
Summary
In testimony to the committee, the district’s government affairs director said a Senate budget amendment would require buildings with enrollment under 60% to be sold to charter or nonpublic schools unless exempted, and that the district will fight the provision in conference committee. Staff flagged exemptions but called the measure an infringement on local control.
Director Hes, the district’s government affairs director, briefed the committee on the state budget’s potential effects on district property control and school funding.
Hes summarized recent Senate action: the omnibus amendment to the budget would fully phase in the Fair School Funding Plan at FY2021 levels and — in a separate provision — change how the state treats underused school buildings. She said the governor’s original language proposed that “if a building had less than 60% of its enrollment that that building should not stay in the district but instead be sold to charter schools and charter non‑public schools.” Hes said the Senate modified that phrasing and added several exemptions (buildings under 10 years old; facilities used for career‑technical programs; and an extraordinary‑circumstances exemption permitting district requests to the director of education and workforce), but the district remains opposed.
Hes told the committee the district will argue the provision infringes on local control and could undermine investments voters made through bonds and levies. She noted questions about tax and bond implications for buildings that still have debt attached and whether levy proceeds would continue to support properties sold to other entities.
On funding more broadly, Hes said the Senate’s full phase‑in of the Fair School Funding Plan is helpful because it provides a formulaic basis for forecasting, but she cautioned that the Senate’s approach uses FY2021 figures and will not fully close present cost gaps created by inflation.
The committee did not take formal action on the state bill; staff said they would follow the conference committee process and are available to brief board members and community stakeholders as the budget progresses.
