Gov. Butch Otter is focusing on education, as he gives his State of the State message to a joint session of the Legislature today. “We are entrusted with the singular constitutional responsibility of providing for a ‘general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools’ throughout Idaho,” Otter said, quoting the Idaho Constitution. “Frankly, I’m convinced that we would see this as our highest priority even if it wasn’t in our Constitution. So promoting and constantly improving education for the people of Idaho must be the foundation of our work together.”

“We made promises during the Great Recession that we are duty-bound to fulfill,” he said, including restoring cuts the state made to education. “We have priorities for Idaho’s future that require world-class K-12 schools and an advanced, responsive post-secondary education system. And now, we have the financial means.”

Otter is recommending a 7.9 percent general fund increase in K-12 public school funding for next year, which equates to a $116.6 million increase and a school budget of nearly $3.3 billion. It includes $10.7 million for early reading intervention, among other items. That’s higher the overall general fund budget boost of 7.3 percent Otter is proposing; he’s not highlighting that figure, as it’s pushed up by several factors including a one-time “27^th payroll” expense that’s a function of the calendar and occurs once every 11 years.