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Senator: bill 235 'appropriates' $60 million for Simon Sanchez High School; funding and predevelopment language debated
Summary
Committee members debated whether Bill 235 provides an appropriation of $60 million for Simon Sanchez High School and whether that language covers predevelopment costs; an agency letter and the CRER were cited to support that the appropriation exists for FY26 but questions remain about FY27 financing.
Chair called the session to order and senators debated the budget language for Simon Sanchez High School, with one senator (Senator, S3) saying Bill 235 as signed by the governor "would appropriate, not authorize, but appropriate the funding of $60,000,000 for Simon Sanchez in this fiscal year from 25 excess revenues." The senator said he had been "under the impression that the only Simon Sanchez authorization was in the governor's transfer authority" and added, "I stand corrected."
The senator read from the governor's letter and cited the fiscal 2026 budget public law, noting the June 2025 consolidated revenue expenditure report (CRER) references "the Simon Sanchez High School construction leaseback payments and associated predevelopment stage expenses." He said Bill 235's eligible uses include "predevelopment expenses consistent with 5G C A 58 D 109," arguing that predevelopment costs are covered. The Chair concurred that the FY26 appropriation for Simon Sanchez is recognized in the CRER.
Separately, the senator outlined a financing path: combining the appropriation with 30-year financing and ongoing negotiations with the most qualified bidder could provide the full requested funding, while cautioning that the committee must "figure out what we're gonna do in '27." He also suggested a technical amendment to remove an audit-trigger condition so previously accumulated excess revenues could be restored and directed first to GMH and then to DOC if appropriate.
No formal motion or vote on Bill 235 was recorded during the session; senators agreed to revisit detailed line-by-line questions in a later round. The committee recessed for dinner and will return to continue budget deliberations and technical amendments.
