Beginning this week, Legislative Update will summarize governors’ budget requests for precollegiate education and highlight proposals that rank high on the states’ education agendas. In coming months, it will summarize final action on state budgets.
ARIZONA
Governor:
Rose Mofford (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$3.26 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.33 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$1.15 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+16 percent
Highlights
Governor seeking $255-million tax increase. About $125 million would be raised by forcing 14 districts with high property values, low enrollments to impose a minimum local property tax. Revenues collected in excess of needs would be recaptured by the state, redistributed to less wealthy districts.
Lawmakers predict special session this fall devoted to school finance.
Legislature expected to address such issues as statewide open enrollment, “at risk” children, extended school year for the handicapped.
ARKANSAS
Governor:
Bill Clinton (D)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$3.9 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.9 billion
FY 1989-90 K-12 budget:
$1.6 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+19 percent
Highlights
Governor’s priorities include higher teacher pay; early-childhood education for the handicapped and disadvantaged; expanded remedial education; statewide open enrollment; forced consolidation of substandard districts; pilot “restructuring” projects.
Budget increase and reform measures contingent on legislative passage of tax increases sought by Governor.
CALIFORNIA
Governor:
George Deukmejian (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$38 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$14.4 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$13.5 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+7 percent
Highlights
Governor’s proposed budget includes $116-million supplemental appropriation for current fiscal year to comply with Proposition 98. State education department estimates new law guaranteeing education set percentage of general-fund budget will require an increase of between $200 million and $280 million. Governor’s plan also sets aside $220 million for unanticipated expenses, million for class-size reductions.
Key lawmakers, with state school chief’s backing, expected to introduce statewide open enrollment bill.
GEORGIA
Governor:
Joe Frank Harris (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$6.75 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$2.63 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$2.34 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+12 percent
Highlights
Governor’s proposed additions to current fiscal year budget include $37.9 million for enrollment increases; $61.3 million to support bond issue for facilities renovation in consolidating districts; $19.3 million for teacher, state employee, and retiree health benefits.
Proposed FY 1990 increase for education may hinge on legislature’s approval of 6-cent gasoline-tax increase for economic development, transportation. Budget plan would raise pay for beginning and veteran teachers; finance initial phase of state career-ladder program; increase funding for special instructional assistance in early grades.
IDAHO
Governor:
Cecil B. Andrus (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$763.4 million
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$393.5 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$356 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+11 percent
Highlights
$12 million of proposed $37.5-million school-aid increase linked to repeal of state investment tax credit; similar proposal was rejected by legislature last year. Governor proposes earmarking the $12 million for school-improvement projects, requiring state education department to audit how money was spent.
Legislature expected to address consolidation; districtwide and statewide parental choice; financing an as-yet unfunded career-ladder program.
IOWA
Governor:
Terry E. Branstad (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$2.7 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.1 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$979 Million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+2 percent
Highlights
Governor proposing shift from biennial to annual state budget cycle; statewide open enrollment; expanding performance-based pay program to include administrators.
Legislature expected to revise school-finance formula; address state regulation of home schools.
KANSAS
Governor:
Mike Sullivan (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$2.36 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$850.9 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$789.5 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+8 percent
Highlights
Statewide property-reappraisal program, proposed income-tax reductions expected to force changes in school-finance system.
Governor proposing program for “at risk” children; business tax incentives for provision of child care; creation of “drug-free” school zones.
MARYLAND
Governor:
William D. Schaefer (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$10.9 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.7 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$1.56 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+9 percent
Highlights
Governor seeking legislation to add three seats to 10-member state board of education, shorten members’ terms.
Budget proposal would expand programs targeted at dropouts, disadvantaged 4-year-olds; finance development of model mathematics and science curricula.
MISSISSIPPI
Governor:
Ray Mabus (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$1.9 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$888.5 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$832.1 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+7 percent
Highlights
Governor expected to call special session later this year on school-reform issues.
Bulk of proposed K-12 increase would finance teacher pay raises approved last year.
Action expected in legislature this session on state academic and financial receivership of substandard districts; plan to require districts to levy minimum property-tax rate to support schools.
MISSOURI
Governor:
John Ashcroft (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$4.12 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.13 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$1.08 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+5 percent
Highlights
Governor has established task force to examine management pracin Kansas City schools.
Proposes raising state share of cost of local career-ladder plans; requiring districts to report names and addresses of dropouts to state for follow-up efforts.
NEBRASKA
Governor:
Kay A. Orr (R)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$2.12 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$267.3 million
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$267.3 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
No change
Highlights
Budget proposal for state education department would raise funding for distance learning, including replacement of existing microwave system of transmision with satellite system.
School-finance study group to issue report later this year, recommendations could provide framework for legislation.
Legislature expected to address the following issues: early-childhood education and child care; school-site restructuring; student testing in 4th, 8th, and 12th grades to help ensure accountability; state income-tax deductions for public- and private-school expenses.
NEW MEXICO
Governor:
Garrey E. Carruthers (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$1.6 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$817 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$803 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+2 percent
Highlights
Governor’s proposals include merit scholarships for middle- and low-income students; teacher pay raise tied in part to rollback of class-size limits in early grades; expanded parental choice in school selections.
NEW YORK
Governor:
Mario M. Cuomo (D)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$29.2 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$8.2 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$8 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+3 percent
Highlights
Governor proposing higher taxes, $300 million in borrowing, shifting funding responsibility for some programs from state to localities to help eliminate estimated $1-billion budget deficit for current fiscal year.
Governor’s education priorities include expansion of prekindergarten for the disadvantaged and community-schools programs; counseling for potential recipients of Liberty Scholarships.
NORTH CAROLINA
Governor:
James G. Martin (R)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$13.8 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$6.4 billion
FY 1989-90 K-12 budget:
$5.5 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+16 percent
Highlights
Governor’s proposed 5.7 percent salary increase for teachers would be delayed until April 1990 if legislature cannot find revenues to finance it. State board asked to recommend what portions of raise should go toward merit pay, across-the-board increases. Governor also backs expansion of pilot career-ladder program.
Governor’s other priorities include expanding parental choice in school selections; less state regulation in return for greater local accountability for student performance.
OKLAHOMA
Governor:
Henry Bellmon (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$2.5 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$849 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$839 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+1 percent
Highlights
Governor’s proposed health initiative would ban tobacco use in schools; require teenagers to pass drug test to obtain drivers’ licenses and revoke dropouts’ driving privileges; impose stricter sobriety rule for teenage drivers; expand prenatal health services and school health-education programs.
Also proposes amending state law on student transfers between districts to provide parents with more choice.
OREGON
Governor:
Neil Goldschmidt (D)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$4.4 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.5 billion
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$1.3 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+15 percent
Highlights
Governor supports legislation aimed at establishing property-tax bases for districts that currently must seek voter approval for their operating expenses.
Proposed $29.6-million “children’s agenda” would provide grants to counties to support health, day-care, and preschool services.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Governor:
George Mickelson (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$421 million
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$126 million
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$114 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+11 percent
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Highlights
Governor proposes earmarking 2.25 cents of the 4-cent sales tax for state school aid; two-year freeze on property-tax increases.
UTAH
Governor:
Norman H. Bangerter (R)
FY 1990 proposed state budget:
$2.9 billion
FY 1990 proposed K-12 budget:
$1.06 billion
FY 1989 K-12 budget:
$1.03 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+3 percent
Highlights
Governor’s tax-limitation proposal would freeze property taxes at current levels; allow state budget to grow only to cover higher costs associated with population growth, rate of inflation; impose restrictions on state bonding authority.
Also proposes expansion of pilot program that provides state aid to districts in form of loosely regulated block grants.
VIRGINIA
Governor:
Gerald L. Baliles (D)
FY 1989-90 state budget:
$11.7 billion (Approved March 1988)
FY 1989-90 K-12 budget:
$4.2 billion
Proposed change K-12 budget:
+$21.6 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+0.5 percent
Highlights
Proposed increase for second year of biennium would cover costs of enrollment increases, lower than anticipated sales-tax revenues.
Governor urging creation of council on child care and early-childhood programs to coordinate efforts.
Legislature expected to address: permitting election of local school boards, which are now appointive bodies; delaying implementation of state’s family-life education curriculum and requirement for guidance counselors in elementary schools.
WASHINGTON
Governor:
W. Booth Gardner (D)
FY 1990-91 proposed state budget:
$12.1 billion
FY 1990-91 proposed K-12 budget:
$5.7 billion
FY 1988-89 K-12 budget:
$4.8 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+19 percent
Highlights
Budget proposal would provide teachers with a 8.45 percent pay increase over two years; double funding for early-childhood-education and school-restructuring programs; create a state clearinghouse on educational technology.
Governor may propose a tax-reform plan or tax increases later in the legislative session.
Recent report by gubernatorial panel on dropouts recommended elimination of Carnegie units, replacement with demonstration of competencies; expanded parental choice in school selections; publication of test scores and other data for all schools.
