The following are summaries of final actions by legislatures on education-related matters.
ALASKA
Governor:
Walter J. Hickel (I)
FY 1993 state budget: $2.4 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $654.6 million
FY 1992 K-12 budget: $608.5 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +7.6 percent
Highlights
Legislature overrode Governor’s veto of a bill giving public school teachers a permanent right to strike.
Governor is backing state board of education’s Alaska 2000 reform effort, which includes recommendations on standards, school choice, and changes in school finance and other laws.
COLORADO
Governor:
Roy Romer (D)
FY 1993 state budget: $2.8 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $1.14 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget: $1.11 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +2.7 percent
Highlights
Governor signed school-funding bill that eliminates $156 million education budget gap by shifting funds and eliminating a state tax deduction.
Governor is seeking long-term solution to perennial school-funding battles with ballot measure to increase state sales tax from 3 cents to 4 cents to implement education reforms.
Bill to allow public schools to secede from their districts and be supervised by a special statewide district was killed in committee.
GEORGIA
Governor:
Zell Miller (D)
FY 1993 state budget: $8.17 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $3.03 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget: $2.79 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +9.3 percent
Highlights
Budget restores 2.5 percent cut in state funding for schools taken in mid-1992.
Gives teachers a 2 percent pay increase; other legislation calls for state to establish mechanism for paying for performance.
Provides increases of 13 percent in funds distributed to schools in low-income areas and more than 15 percent for in-school suspensions and special assistance for students with difficulties.
Governor signed legislation earmarking lottery proceeds for pre-kindergarten programs, college scholarships, and education-related construction.
MISSOURI
Governor:
John Ashcroft (R)
FY 1993 state budget: $9.6 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $1.149 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget: $1.140 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +0.78 percent
Highlights
Legislature failed to reach a compromise on reform of state foundation formula, forcing the longstanding issue to be resolved in state court.
Increase of $9 million in education budget will be distributed into state-mandated funds that cover local costs for transportation, gifted education, and special education, leaving no money for new programs.
Legislature passed a measure allowing the state to take over financially bankrupt districts and reassign students to neighboring jurisdictions.
NEW MEXICO
Governor:
Bruce King (D)
FY 1993 state budget: $2.11 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $1.03 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget: $1.01 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +2.0 percent
Highlights
Legislature passed and Governor signed a measure allowing collective bargaining by public school teachers.
Governor vetoed bill that would have changed the way schools comply with class-size limits, saying it was too costly.
OHIO
Governor:
George V. Voinovich (R)
FY 1993 state budget: $10.7 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget: $3.13 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget: $2.92 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +7.2 percent
Highlights
Legislature passed a bill scrapping the state’s differentiated-diploma program, which had yet to take effect.
Governor and lawmakers exempted K-12 aid from statewide budget cuts during the year.
Legislature approved a measure cutting the membership of the state board of education from 21 to 11. Representatives will be elected from the new districts in November.
