Two Democratic members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee have released an analysis they requested from legislative staffers of what it would take to fund Idaho’s schools at the same level as in 2009-09, taking into account the anticipated 18,800 increase in students between then and next fall. “Without including inflation, legislative staff concluded that $29.5 million above the governor’s proposed FY 2016 budget would be needed to match FY 2009 spending plus student population growth,” said Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise. “Discretionary funding, for example, would have to increase from the proposed $23,660 to $25,696 per support unit.”

When he and Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, asked the staff to also factor in inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index, another $33.8 million would be needed to keep schools even. King and Gannon said they plan to propose a public school budget in JFAC that will bring funding back up to the 2009 level and take into account the increase in students, though not inflation; that would mean they’d call for $29.5 million more than Gov. Butch Otter’s 7.4 percent increase in state funds.

“Our proposal moves kids to the front of the line,” King said, noting that the state Department of Commerce is getting a 10 percent budget increase.