The following are summaries of final actions by legislatures on education-related matters.
ARIZONA
Governor:
Fife Symington (R)
FY 1993 state budget:
$3.49 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget:
$1.37 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget:
$1.34 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
+2.2 percent
Highlights
- Legislature failed to approve several bills in a package of six related reform measures sought by the Governor, causing entire package to fail.
- Lawmakers voted to expand teacher career-ladder programs to as many as 20 additional districts.
CALIFORNIA
Governor:
Pete Wilson (R)
FY 1993 state budget:
$40.8 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget:
$16.1 billion
FY 1992 K-12 budget:
$16.4 billion
Percent change K-12 budget:
-1.8 percent
Highlights
- State’s total general-fund budget dropped $3 billion from fiscal 1992 after a protracted legislative session in which the state operated for two months without a spending plan.
- Budget compromise, by cutting base education funding for fiscal 1992 before making more cuts in fiscal 1993, would actually reduce overall school funds by $2 billion, officials said. Lawmakers have agreed, however, to maintain this year’s base per-pupil funding level for two years.
- Lawmakers approved a plan allowing teachers and others to create up to 100 independently operated “charter’’ schools with public funding.
UTAH
Governor:
Norman H. Bangerter (R)
FY 1993 state budget:
$1.94 billion
FY 1993 K-12 budget:
$941 million
FY 1992 K-12 budget:
$897 million
Percent change K-12 budget:
+4.9 percent
Highlights
Legislature passed bill designed to equalize school-construction funding among wealthy and poor districts. Some districts that face a loss of funds have threatened a court challenge to the law.
