| Reporting on the budget process is always a challenge, but this year the shifting landscape makes it almost impossible.
Here's what it looks like as of this writing:
As reported by Education News Colorado, the School Finance Act passed by the Senate last week provides a 2.4% increase in per pupil school funding, which amounts to something closer to "inflation minus one," than the "inflation plus one percent" required by Amendment 23.
Meanwhile, the Legislature is struggling to find $300 million in funding for higher education, not only to avoid tuition increases and community college closures, but because the State will forgo all education stimulus stabilization dollars if we can't fund higher education at 2006 levels. (Notably, it appears that those federal education stabilization dollars will only prevent even deeper cuts, rather than restore the funding).
Colorado's long-time story line of pitting K-12 against higher education continues, as some have recommended taking an additional $100 million out of K-12 funding (even further violating Amendment 23). From the Denver Post:
Among the GOP's so-called big-ticket items was Colorado Springs Sen. Keith King's plan to further reduce public-school funding and give the $100 million to higher-education programs such as remedial courses, pre-collegiate curriculum and teacher training.
Were another $100 million taken out of the School Finance Act, schools would be funded approximately $250 million below the requirements of Amendment 23, which the voters passed in 2000 to protect kids in good times and bad.
As noted by the Post, other options exist, such as tax policy changes, use of the Pinnacol Assurance reserves.
What the Legislature decides will provide the public with insight into the values and priorities of state leaders. |
