Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.
Bill Description: House Bill 921 is an enhancement of $517,800 and an additional 0.00 full-time positions for the State Department of Education for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $46,416,600 and 127.00 full-time positions to the agency.
Rating: -3
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the State Board of Education of $248,200, adding onto last year’s (FY26) ongoing spending increase of $435,000. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.
The increase in ongoing spending is due to the acceptance of a federal grant for the Child Nutrition Program ($220,000 FF) and the School Bus Camera Fund ($28,200 DF). These expenditures are unwarranted, especially so in a deficit year.
(-1)
Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?
This legislation authorizes onetime spending for the State Board of Education of $269,600, adding additional expenditures after last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $2,014,400. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to these onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.
The onetime expenditure solely consists of a grant for Farm to School educational program ($269,600 FF). This represents an unwarranted expenditure, especially so in a deficit year.
(-1)
Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?
This legislation appropriates $489,600 in federal enhancements to the agency. This includes onetime money for the Farm to School educational program ($269,600 FF) and ongoing money for the Child Nutrition Program ($220,000 FF). This represents an unnecessary commitment to continued reliance on borrowed federal dollars, deepening the dependence on the federal government and violating the principles of federalism.
(-1)
