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SALT LAKE CITY -- Lawmakers couldn't come to a consensus Monday on prioritizing which public education programs to fund if more money becomes available — and it isn't clear what will happen next.
The Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee was asked to list programs that deserve more money if revenue projections turn out higher than expected. Earlier in the session, the subcommittee cut education by about 11 percent — $92 million of which it voluntarily withheld to be reinstated Monday.
It's like trying to predict the outcome of a baseball game in the third inning. We still have many innings to go.
–Gov. Gary Herbert
After weeks of hearing testimony about the services the $92 million funds, and nearly two hours of failed motions Monday, lawmakers couldn't agree on what programs they valued most. In previous years, that money has been spent on school busing, adult education, and an elementary reading program, among others.
"It left a lot up in the air," said subcommittee co-chairwoman Rep. Merlynn Newbold, R-South Jordan.
She said it's possible that the subcommittee will meet again before she and co-chairman Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, have to present a budget to the Executive Appropriations Committee. But that's not guaranteed. If the subcommittee can't meet again, it remains to be seen what the Executive Appropriations committee will decide to fund or cut.
"It will be up to them," Newbold said.
Newbold and Buttars passed out recommendations to the subcommittee on Monday to discuss, modify and adopt.
A relatively small amount of the budget seemed to set things off. The recommendations didn't include about $350,000 for a program that gives signing bonuses to college students who commit to be highly qualified math and science teachers.
"If we adopt (these recommendations), we are saying that we no longer value attracting qualified people," said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper.
Buttars agreed and made a motion that $2 million be taken from another program, and allocated to the signing bonus program. That motion set off a series of substitute motions and debate that lasted much of the meeting.
Some lawmakers recommended funding other programs, others wanted to approve the recommendations wholesale and move on to discussing a priority list. Ultimately, motions to accept the chairs' recommendations failed, and motions to amend the chairs' recommendations also failed.
Lawmakers could have requested that new money go toward a gamut of education programs, like the governor's recommendation that $56 million in new funds be allocated to fund growth, or $7.5 million to fund optional, extended-day kindergarten.
Gov. Gary Herbert said the current budget discussions have a long way to go, and there's plenty of time left to decide.
"It's still early in the process. It's like trying to predict the outcome of a baseball game in the third inning. We still have many innings to go. We will continue to work with legislators toward funding growth this budget cycle," he said.
The lack of recommendations has raised concerns among legislative leaders, who are expected to talk at length about how to fix the situation in meetings later Monday and early Tuesday.
E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com
