Breaking Down the Proposed Public-School Funding Formula

Contributing member: Brad Cuddy

Regarding the proposed changes to the public-school funding formula, Lewiston Schools do not fare well under any circumstances. For that matter, most schools in North Central Idaho lose base funding. That is tough, since funding levels are just now getting closer to where they were before the Great Recession budget cuts.

To mitigate some of the impact, the state says it will hold harmless schools that lose money by keeping funding levels congruent with current levels for three years. A key question is: will that include inflationary adjustments each year? If not, where will the funds come from to adjust wages and salaries (over 80% of the school budget), for the next three years?  Then, of course, after three years pass, we take the funding hit full on.

The key takeaway is this: if this formula were in place today, the Lewiston School District would suffer a $1.4 million reduction in state funding. Even after the numbers are inflated by adding another $130 million to the base budget (which is what the spreadsheet on the legislative web site does), Lewiston loses $400,000 every year. So, to contrast, we lose $400,000 in funding and do not see any benefit from increased overall funding levels. Last year, that amounted to well over $1,000,000.  So, using either approach – we suffer a $1.4 million annual reduction. That is tough.

If it looks like this legislation gets legs, and it most likely will, it is important to contact our legislative delegation and legislators in this entire region and share your views and concerns. Some of the goals and concepts of the formula change are good, but it obviously needs more work, or they need to pump a lot more money into the education budget to keep everyone whole.

Following is a video link produced by the Boise School district that reviews the proposed new funding formula.  It is about 40 minutes long, but it does an excellent job explaining the complexity of the formula.  It is dated back to July but still is highly relevant since the basic elements and assumptions of the formula remain the same. 

This is a link to the Legislative Web Site with more information: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2018/interim/psff/

Two spreadsheets are attached that were downloaded from the legislative web site. One shows the impact for Lewiston using this fiscal year’s numbers, which is only real “Apples to Apples” way to see how the pie gets re-divided.  The other one uses the increased funding projection, which adds $130,000,000 to the base amount. 

Also attached is a reprint of an Editorial Marty Trillhaase published in the Lewiston Tribune.

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2018/interim/psff/

CONTACT OUR EDUCATION COMMITTEES

HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Legislator Information for Districts 5,6,7

Senate Address is	P.O. Box 83720	Boise, ID 83720-0081
House Address is	P.O. Box 83720	Boise, ID 83720-0038
District/Seat	Name	Committees	Local Address	email	session #	Personal #
District 5	Sen. Dan Nelson (D)	Agricultural Affairs; Health & Welfare; Transportation	804 East E Street	Moscow, ID 83843	dnelson@senate.idaho.gov	208-332-1405	208-301-2266
5A	Rep. Bill Goesling	Agricultural Affairs; Education; Judiciary, Rules & Administration	1141 Paradise Ridge Rd	Moscow, ID 83843	bgoesling@house.idaho.gov	208-332-1175	208-596-2001
5B	Rep. Caroline Nillson Troy	VICE CHAIR-Agricultural Affairs; Appropriations; Judiciary, Rules & Administration	2794 Highway 95	Genesee, ID 83832	cntroy@house.idaho.gov	208-332-1035	208-2850182
District 6	Sen. Dan Johnson	VICE CHAIR-Finance; Resources & Environment	PO Box 2217	Lewiston, ID 83501	djohnson@senate.idaho.gov	208-332-1421	208-816-1164
6A	Rep. Thyra Stevenson	VICE CHAIR-Revenue & Taxation; Agricultural Affairs; Business	PO Box 369	Nezperce, ID 83543	tstevenson@house.idaho.gov	208-332-1184	208-400-0634
6B	Rep. Mike Kingsley	VICE CHAIR-Local Government; Commerce & Human Resources; Health & Welfare	3413 Bluebird Circle	Lewiston, ID 83501	mkingsley@house.idaho.gov	208-332-1133	208-791-4205
District 7	Sen. Carl Crabtree	VICE CHAIR-Transportation; Education; Finance	36 White Tail Acres Lane	Grangeville, ID 83501	ccrabtree@senate.idaho.gov	208-332-1355	208-983-2176
7A	Rep. Priscilla Giddings	Agricultural Affairs; Commerce & Human Resources; Revenue & Taxation	PO Box 43	Whitebird, ID 83554	pgiddings@house.idaho.gov	208-332-1033	208-570-8616
7B	Rep. Paul Shepherd	VICE CHAIR-Transportation & Defense; Education; Resources & Conservation	PO Box 277	Riggins, ID 83549	pshepherd@house.idaho.gov	208-332-1067	208-628-3695

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2019/standingcommittees/SEDU/

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2019/standingcommittees/SEDU/