Friday News Roundup: Week of December 13-17

At Ed Money Watch, we discuss and analyze major issues affecting education funding. In our Friday News Roundup, we try to highlight interesting stories that might otherwise get overlooked. These stories emphasize how federal and state policy changes can affect local schools and districts.

Oklahoma Superintendent Asks for $381 million Increase in State Aid

Nebraska Lawmakers Propose Deep Cuts to K-12, Higher Education

Montana Governor Says Tax Revenues are Better than Expected

Oklahoma Superintendent Asks for $381 million Increase in State Aid
Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett this week asked for a $381 million increase in state aid for education in her budget request for fiscal year 2012. The budget increase would bring the total state education budget to $2.6 billion and would replace $139.5 million in federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and $201 million in state funds that were cut in fiscal year 2011. It would also cover increases in program expenses, including a new program to provide remediation for students who fail the state’s high school graduation exams. More here…

Nebraska Lawmakers Propose Deep Cuts to K-12, Higher Education
Nebraska state lawmakers this week released a report outlining options for potential budget cuts for the coming 2012-13 fiscal biennium that would total about $400 million in each year if enacted. The state’s budget forecasters project a $986 million shortfall over the next two years. Under the plan, the largest cut would come from the state’s K-12 education budget, which would be trimmed by $134 million in each year from 2009-10 levels. Having already made spending cuts in previous years as a result of state budget cuts, school districts may have to rely on increased property taxes to balance their budgets. The proposal would also cut $49 million per year from the state’s higher education budget. This would likely lead colleges and universities to raise tuition and fees. More here…

Montana Governor Says Tax Revenues are Better than Expected
Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer announced this week that the state budget picture is better than expected due to improving revenues. He predicts that the state will have $120 million more than expected to spend in fiscal year 2012. Governor Schweitzer encouraged the state legislature to use these extra funds to support the budget proposal he submitted in November that would cut business taxes, give homeowners a tax rebate, and increase state aid for education. Republicans in the state legislature are hesitant to support Governor Schweitzer’s budget and are considering making cuts to the state education budget, claiming that Governor Schweitzer’s plan is balanced by pilfering from state infrastructure projects and other areas to pay for his spending increases. More here…