The following are summaries of governors’ budget requests for precollegiate education and highlights of proposals that rank high on the states’ legislative agendas.
MINNESOTA
Governor: Rudy Perpich (D)
FY 1990-91 state budget: $13.3 billion
FY 1990-91 K-12 budget: $3.8 billion
Proposed change K-12 budget: -$14 million
Percent change K-12 budget: -0.4 percent
Highlights:
Governor recommending no change in budgeted 4.1 percent increase in per-pupil aid in second year of biennial budget, but asking legislature, as part of $200-million spending-cut package, to allocate $19.4 million less to districts for contributions to the state teacher-pension fund.
Governor also seeking $500,000 for new alternative teacher-licensure program and $1.1 million to fund cooperative and combination agreements between small districts.
Governor’s $18.5-million drug- and alcohol-abuse-prevention initiative would fund expansions of early-childhood and other school programs.
OKLAHOMA
Governor: Henry Bellmon (R)
FY 1991 proposed state budget: $3.05 billion
FY 1991 proposed K-12 budget: $1.13 billion
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $887.3 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +27 percent
Highlights:
Governor’s budget contingent on passage of reform and revenue bill currently bogged down in Senate.
Revenue package includes half-cent sales-tax increase, 1 percent corporate-tax increase, and 10 percent increase in the personal-income tax.
The budget sets aside $35 million from the state’s “rainy day” fund for voluntary school consolidation.
If bill fails to pass, schools will receive $43 million above 1990 level.
RHODE ISLAND
Governor: Edward D. DiPrete (R)
FY 1991 proposed state budget: $1.52 billion
FY 1991 proposed K-12 budget: $406 million
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $374 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +8.6 percent
Highlights:
Governor’s budget maintains his goal of having the state provide 50 percent of school funding.
Budget also includes $3 million for new Children’s Crusade for Higher Education, which would provide scholarships for students attending state colleges.
