CONNECTICUT
Governor: Lowell P. Weicker Jr. (I)
FY 1992 state budget:
$7 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget:
$1.4 billion
FY 1991 K-12 budget:
$1.35 billion
Percent change K- 12 budget:
+ 4 percent
Highlights:
- After protracted struggle, legislature adopted 4.5 percent income tax demanded by Governor; in wake of public outcry, some lawmakers seeking a special session to repeal the law.
- New formula approved by lawmakers for state education aid shifts some funds from wealthier to poorer school districts.
- Budget reduces funding for innovative beginning-teacher program.
- Also requires teachers to undergo substantially more professional development to receive their state recertification.
VIRGINIA
Governor: L. Douglas Wilder (D)
FY 1991-92 state budget:
$25.6 billion
FY 1991-92 K-12 budget:
$4.4 billion
FY 1989-90 K- 12 budget:
$4.2 billion
Highlights:
- For second year of biennium, lawmakers cut planned aid to local school districts by $85 million because of state budget shortfall.
- Budget also does not earmark any state money for teacher raises.
- Legislature passed cost-saving early-retirement bill giving state employees, including teachers, the option to retire at 25 years of service or age 50.
- Also approved “deregulation” bill freeing local school districts from some types of paperwork.
- Lawmakers considered bill to give state superintendent authority to grant financially strapped districts temporary waivers from minimum state requirements, but dropped proposal after analysts concluded it would violate the state constitution.
