Bill Description: House Bill 1362 appropriates the maintenance budget for agencies related to public schools.

Rating: -1 

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 bill would reduce the general funds base by $0, the dedicated base by $0, and the federal base by $0 for a total base reduction of $0. The total budget increases from a FY26 original appropriation of $3,111,556,200 to a new FY27 maintenance appropriation of $3,130,193,000, an increase of 0 FTP and $18,636,800, or 0.6%. Note that maintenance budgets do not include possible enhancements, which distorts the comparison. 

Public schools did not participate in the governor’s holdbacks or receive any additional cuts. The schools did reduce their support units in FY26 to reflect lower student enrollment, but this is simply a statutory duty. Schools also have a record $716 million in fund balances. Additionally, from FY20 to FY27 this group of agencies has also grown faster than inflation and population growth would prescribe. A maintenance budget must begin with the correct baseline before its growth or reduction can be rationalized as either positive or negative. For this budget, not only is the baseline too high, but it has not participated in reductions as other agencies have.

(-1)