The following are summaries of final 1999 budgets for schools and highlights of education-related action during legislative sessions. Budget totals for K-12 education include money for state education administration, but do not include federal, flow-through dollars.
NEW MEXICO
Governor:
Gary E. Johnson (R)
FY 1999 state budget:
$3.15 billion
FY 1999 K-12 budget:
$1.47 billion
FY 1998 K-12 budget:
$1.37 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+7.5 percent
Estimated enrollment:
330,000
Highlights:
- Budget includes 9 percent pay increase for teachers and an average 6.5 percent increase for other school employees.
- Efforts to revamp state’s charter school law to expand number of such schools failed in legislative session.
- Governor signed open-enrollment bill that will make it easier for parents to send children to public schools outside their districts.
- Legislature rejected Mr. Johnson’s proposal to create a state school board appointed by the governor. Currently, 10 members are elected and five are appointed by governor.
VIRGINIA
Governor:
Gov. James S. Gilmore III (R)
FY 1999-2000 state budget:
$20 billion
FY 1999-2000 K-12 budget:
$7 billion
FY 1997-1998 K-12 budget:
$6.1 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+14 percent
Estimated enrollment:
1.1 million
Highlights:
- Biennial budget includes $231 million for anticipated student-enrollment hikes and $97 million to increase teachers’ salaries over the next two years.
- Budget includes $29.1 million for hiring 600 new teachers over next two years and $28 million to hire more K-3 teachers to reduce class sizes.
- In special session, legislature passed governor’s request for $110 million to help pay for school construction and maintenance.
- Mr. Gilmore also signed bill that provides $200,000 in seed money in 1999 for communities and districts to launch charter schools.
