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 905 is an enhancement of $4,487,900 and a transfer of 4.00 full-time positions for the Office of the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $29,895,500 and 80.42 full-time positions to the agency.
Rating: -2
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 Office of the State Board of $487,900, adding onto last year’s (FY26) ongoing spending increase of $179,200. 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 renewing of the Canvas LMS for the university system ($998,400 GF). This is a renewal of an already existing contract which has been moved under OSBE in this budget.
(0)
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 Office of the State Board of $4,000,000, adding additional expenditures after last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $181,500. 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 grants for postsecondary education ($4,000,000 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 $4,000,000 in federal enhancements to the agency. This represents an unnecessary commitment to continued reliance on federal dollars, deepening the dependence on the federal government and violating the principles of federalism.
(-1)
Does the budget grow government through the addition of new, objectionable, permanent FTPs or through funding unlegislated efforts to create new or expanded existing programs? Conversely, does this budget reduce the size of government staff and programs except where compelled by new legislation?
This budget reduces the number of employees at OBSE by 4.00. This is a net zero transfer of risk managers from OSBE to the institutions themselves.
(0)
