[Vision2020] Idaho May Miss Out on School Aid

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (August 14, 2010) Spokesman-Review.

 

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Idaho may miss out on school aid

State funding level may be too low to qualify

Jessie L. Bonner, Associated Press  

 

BOISE - Public schools chief Tom Luna says there are concerns Idaho may not
qualify for education money under a new federal law aimed at helping states
spare thousands of teaching jobs.

 

The emergency spending bill signed into law Tuesday will provide $10 billion
to help states cover funding for an estimated 160,000 jobs in K-12 public
schools and another $16 billion for Medicaid costs.

 

Idaho is expected to receive about $51 million to hire, rehire and retain
teachers.

 

Luna said more than a few states have questions about the law, which
requires states to show they've maintained a certain level of funding at
both the public school and higher education level. "There are concerns that
we may not qualify under the rules," he said.

 

Sen. John Goedde, a Republican who chairs the Senate Education Committee,
said it appears Idaho will have to boost funding for higher education to
become eligible for the new public schools money.

 

The budget for Idaho's four-year public universities this fiscal year
includes about $32.1 million less in total funding and further slashes the
state share of costs for higher education.

 

The state's general fund portion dropped about 14.1 percent and, combined
with previous losses, means Idaho will be spending about $67.6 million less
in tax revenue on higher education than it did two years ago.

 

Idaho, to bolster the higher education budget, would either have to draw
from public education reserves or raid the so-called Millennium Fund, which
holds the state's share of a big 1998 settlement with tobacco companies,
Goedde said.

 

A withdrawal from either fund would likely need approval from the Idaho
Legislature, making it unclear whether the governor would have to call a
special session, Goedde said.

 

Gov. Butch Otter's spokesman, Jon Hanian, said Friday the governor was still
assessing the new law and what it means for Idaho, reiterating criticisms
that there was a lack of clear guidance from the federal government.

 

States must apply to the federal education department within 30 days of when
the law took effect, and funds must be awarded to states within 45 days of
enactment. 

 

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Seeya at Farmers Market, Moscow.

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"Corporations are an oppressed minority forced to move headquarters from
state to state in search of friendlier tax codes--sometimes being forced to
live just off our shores in tiny mailboxes." 

 

- John Oliver, The Daily Show

 

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