Legislature: Public education should prepare for budget cuts


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SALT LAKE CITY -- Legislative leaders say public education should prepare for some kind of budget cut this year. This comes two days after a $50 million shortfall was revealed for next year's overall budget.

Lawmakers say it might come down to cuts or a tax increase in the future.

A lot of legislators hate higher taxes. The Legislature's strong feeling about tax increases mean public schools may have to deal with cuts and even tighter budgets starting next year.

House Majority Leader Kevin Garn said Thursday there is a $500 million gap in the state's education system. That's the gap between expenses and revenues, going forward.

Lawmakers have been "backfilling" the budgets with rainy day funds. That's like using a savings account to pay bills.

When that savings is gone, it comes down to really tough decisions.

"The intent would be to advertise on the school bus so the transportation side of the Jordan School District [is] self sufficient, so we can allocate that money somewhere else," said Rep. Jim Bird, R-West Jordan.
"The intent would be to advertise on the school bus so the transportation side of the Jordan School District [is] self sufficient, so we can allocate that money somewhere else," said Rep. Jim Bird, R-West Jordan.

House leaders are talking about a variety of options, including cuts to everything; that includes education, which they say has been held harmless in the past, but now should share in cuts.

"All we can do is allocate the money that we have, and the education budget is 51 percent of the total budget," Garn says. "If we're going to get any significant cuts out of the budget, we're going to have to cut education ... a little bit."

But the education community recoils at any suggestion of cuts.

The team from the Utah Education Association at the Capitol blames the tax structure itself. Kim Campbell says that should be fixed first.

"We're concerned, with the structural issue as well, but we think that's what needs to be addressed, not further cuts," Campbell says.

In the meantime, there are revenue-generating proposals floating around. One bill would give school districts the option to put age-appropriate ads on school buses.

Rep. Jim Bird, R-West Jordan, says, "The intent would be to advertise on the school bus so the transportation side of the Jordan School District [is] self-sufficient, so we can allocate that money somewhere else."

Bird says a school district in Texas has raised $250,000 by allowing ads on school buses.

Lawmakers are really worried about education in 2011 and beyond. And, yes, they're saying the situation is serious enough to be prepared for.

E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com

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