2012-13 Public Education Budget 

The business-led Prosperity 2020 coalition released a statement in December 2011 urging the Legislature to “make public and higher education the most urgent priority” for funding. The statement requested a strategic investment of $127 million in new money for public and higher education.

The Governor’s office announced in November that it expects a $280 million increase in ongoing tax revenue for next fiscal year, plus a one-time surplus of $128 million.

• Utah education officials make $25M school funding mistake 04/12/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) A miscalculation at the State Office of Education has led to a $25 million mistake in Utah’s education budget for next school year — and the resignation of two top finance officials.

• Calculation error leaves schools short by $25 million 04/12/2012
  (Deseret News) A miscalculation in funding has caused the state's education budget to be short by $25 million, the Utah State Office of Education announced Wednesday, but officials say they have the money to fix the mixup.

• Education funding bill passes both chambers 03/08/2012
  (Deseret News) Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, sponsored SB2, which increases the weighted pupil unit (WPU) value by 1.15 percent — accounting for approximately $24 million — as part of a $70 million supplement to the $3.5 billion public education base budget signed by the governor in February. Hillyard estimated that after the legislative session is completed, the education budget will receive between $110 million and $115 million in additional funding.

• Lawmakers to fund enrollment growth, boost per pupil spending 03/08/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) SB2 also would increase base per pupil funding by more than 1 percent next school year to $2,848, in most cases. That increase, however, may not translate directly into raises for teachers, as it would likely be just enough to cover expected retirement cost increases.

• Legislative leaders finalizing Utah budget 03/03/2012
  (Deseret News) For the most part, the primary goals for legislators of boosting education funding, giving raises to public employees and covering the growth in Medicaid have been accomplished, House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, said.

• Some sticking points remain in Utah’s $13 billion budget 03/02/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) Legislators are recommending covering costs of the 12,500 new students expected to enter Utah schools, plus a 1.16 percent increase in per-pupil spending, slightly more than the governor suggested. However, that would not be enough to give teachers a pay raise once the added money is consumed by pension payments. And teachers could see their take-home pay dip if health premiums rise again.

• House, Senate leaders hashing out state budget 03/02/2012
  (Deseret News) The additional money could fund a slight wage increase for teachers, but legislators were quick to say that decision rests with school districts. "The Legislature does not set teacher salaries. The districts do," Lockhart said.

• Controversial public ed riders stripped from budget bill 02/23/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) The adoption of the so-called intent language last week created a firestorm of opposition from education groups who claimed it was an attempt to make an end-run around the Legislature and ram through significant policy changes.

• Utah Legislature passes school supply bill 02/22/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) The bill, sponsored by Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, aims to clarify that elementary schools are allowed to request supplies from parents, though it would still be optional for parents to buy them. If parents didn’t wish to buy the supplies, the school would still have to provide them, according to the bill.

• Some criticize education budget process 02/16/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) The Legislature’s education budget committee recommended Wednesday night that schools get an additional $146 million next school year to pay for new students, boost per pupil spending and fund new types of tests and more computers, among other items. The committee also recommended, however, that some language be included in the final education budget bill that would cost school districts millions in other areas.

• Governor Visits UEA Board Meeting 02/07/2012
  The Governor began his comments to the Board by expressing his gratitude for teachers and the work they do across the state. He also said he believes the UEA and public education have a much stronger voice now than in recent years, a fact he attributes “in large part to the efforts of Sharon and those from the UEA who are reaching out” to business and political leaders.

• Lawmakers to discuss spending on public education 01/28/2012
  (Fox 13) Currently, Utah is in last place in the nation when it comes to money spent per student. Gov. Herbert has pushed for more than $100 million increase in education spending as part of his 2012 budget. The money would give Utah teachers a 1% raise.

• Gov. calls for increased education funding, innovation 01/26/2012
  We’ve heard it many times…Gov. Gary Herbert’s No. 1 budget priority is education. He stressed it once again in his 2012 State of the State Address. “My top legislative priority is to fund the growth and continued innovation in our education system,” he said during his annual speech before both houses of the Utah Legislature.

• Money, technology to be top education issues this legislative session 01/22/2012
  (Deseret News) "I know that the Appropriations Committee is going to do everything in its power to fund growth," said Sen. Aaron Osmond, R-South Jordan, chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

• Lawmaker wants to raise per-pupil funding 01/21/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City, plans to run several bills this session that would gradually increase per-pupil funding by $750 over 10 years, which he said would move Utah ahead of Idaho, now ranked second to last in the country for per-pupil funding. Under the proposals, Utah schools would eventually get about $450 million more a year than they currently receive, he said.

• State's revenue projections better than expected 01/19/2012
  (KSL.com) Sen. Lyle Hillyard said, "We're going to be up $280 million in collections. So, that's increased ongoing revenue that we can use in our budget as we look at the needs of the state."

• Utah Education Association hopes for collaboration with lawmakers 01/01/2012
  (Salt Lake Tribune) "I remain hopeful that we will be able to sit down together and look at public education in our state and move it forward," said UEA president Sharon Gallagher-Fishbaugh.

• Utah House Republicans vow to fund education, oppose tax hikes 12/21/2011
  (Salt Lake Tribune) "We want to start a new era of cooperation and appreciation with our partners in education," said House Majority Leader Brad Dee, R-Ogden. "Right upfront … we think we need to be funding growth in education. Period."

• Utah business PAC to lawmakers: Pony up for education 12/19/2011
  (Salt Lake Tribune) “In this globalized world, [young Utahns] won’t be able to compete unless they have a superior education,” said Nolan Karras, co-chairman of the new PAC, Education First. “I don’t believe the education system we have now is innovative enough and capable of competing in that worldwide environment. Our test scores are dropping. We’re not competing against peer states.”

• Utah Democrats, Republicans spar over public education funding 12/15/2011
  (Deseret News) Public education funding has Democratic and Republican lawmakers squabbling as they gear up for the annual battle over the state budget.

• Governor: Education funding bump key to economic growth 12/13/2011
  (Salt Lake Tribune) At its heart, Herbert’s proposal is an increase of more than $134 million for Utah’s public schools and universities to educate 12,500 students entering public schools next year and offering teachers a small raise.

• New Herbert budget funds schools, pay raises, other needs without tax increase or Rainy Day funds 12/13/2011
  (Deseret News) His budget would boost public education spending by $111 million, enough to cover the cost of more students as well as expand all-day kindergarten and other early intervention programs, add testing and start new charter schools.

• Utah education expecting a boost in governor’s budget 12/12/2011
  (Salt Lake Tribune) A Bountiful high school will provide the backdrop as Gov. Gary Herbert rolls out his $12 billion-plus budget proposal for the coming year with education expected to be a central focus.

• Business leaders have plans for divvying up state surplus dollars 12/12/2011
  (Deseret News) A group of Utah businessmen and women have outlined their high hopes for improving Utah's education systems to the tune of nearly $130 million. From investing in early intervention programs to promoting science, technology and math initiatives, the executives hope the state Legislature will take their message to heart.

• Utah business leaders want $128 million more for schools 12/09/2011
  (Salt Lake Tribune) Each year, a number of groups makes education recommendations to the Legislature, but business leaders said this is the first time the business community has presented its own specific, comprehensive proposal to improve education in Utah.

• State expects $280 million revenue growth next budget year 11/29/2011
  (Deseret News) There likely won't be enough cash left, he said, for new buildings, state employee pay raises or an overall boost to public education funding, let alone new government initiatives.

• State budget projections up by about $400M 11/29/2011
  (Salt Lake Tribune) About 12,500 new students are expected to enter Utah schools, costing the state about $50 million. Enrollment in health insurance for children and the poor is growing, with costs for that program and services for people with disabilities expected to grow by between $100 million and $140 million, as well.