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hire.
• While inflation was actually 3.2% this year, the law says "whichever is less", so schools will get a 3% increase.  Raising the PSA by 3% would give schools $4,625, which is an increase of $134 per student.   To put the amount in perspective, the 2008-09 per student allocation was $4,642 so the FY14 amount is $17 less per student than five years ago and far less in inflation adjusted dollars.  Also, one-time appropriations have not been supported this year by the Governor's budget proposal. 
•  The number of opt-outs now in effect is alarming. That proves that the state continues to push the obligation to fund our public schools to local taxpayers. This school year, 66 of our 151 public schools are currently in an opt-out with many more districts likely to try to pass one if the state continues to underfund schools.
• Senate Bill 15 will also force schools to increase their levy for special education costs.  Much of the cost increases in SB 15 are as a result of the 2011 budget cuts when the funding for students with disabilities was also reduced.  In the past, there may have been adequate money in the state's Extraordinary Cost Fund to reimburse all schools that could not pay all of their special education bills.  Today however, that fund has diminished and schools will need to raise property taxes to cover their on-going special education costs.   Senate Bill 15 allows the mill levies to be set higher to cover these costs.
• All legislators say they support education as a top priority, so it is puzzling why our local schools are always left with scraps when the legislature adjourns every March.  I am still hopeful that we can do better this year.

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