With no disagreement on the final divisions of the public school budget, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee has now set the public schools budget for next year at $1.685 billion, a 6.3 percent increase in state general funds. Gov. Butch Otter had called for a 6.4 percent increase. A major difference was that the governor called for no increase in discretionary funds to school districts, instead freezing discretionary funds while adding a new $15 million line item to cover health insurance cost increases, arguing that that would free up more of school districts’ discretionary funds for other expenses.

However, the actual increases for health insurance in districts are expected to be greater than that amount, and costs vary by school district. In total funds, the budget comes to $2.041 billion.

The budget set by JFAC includes a 4.1 percent increase in discretionary funds to school districts to $26,748 per support unit (a support unit is roughly one classroom full of kids). It includes $62 million to fully fund the third year of the teacher “career ladder” pay improvement program; 3 percent base salary increases for administrators and classified staff who aren’t on the career ladder; a $5 million increase in classroom technology funding; and a $4.25 million increase in funding for professional development, which is a 33 percent increase.

Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, who led a group of JFAC members who crafted the budget, said she believes it fully funds the recommendations of the governor’s education improvement task force.

The budget still needs approval from both the House and Senate and the governor’s signature to become law, but budget bills rarely change after they’re set by the joint committee.

Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, JFAC co-chair, told the joint committee, “I just want to express appreciation for the hours and hours of work that you have done on these budgets. ... You have done the heavy lifting today.” In addition to setting the public schools budget this morning, JFAC set the budgets for major portions of the Department of Health & Welfare, including Medicaid.