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Greetings,

Capitol News from MFT Lobbyist Julie Sabo / February 6th

The Governor released his budget proposal this week (Feb 2nd-6th), and as required by law, it is a balanced budget.  Even with a balanced budget, however, our state can continue to build unsustainable debt, resulting in the need for deeper cuts later.  Just as too thin gusset plates can't sustain a bridge; budget shifts, one time money for on-going expenditures, borrowing to pay down debt, and tax cuts when we currently lack revenue, will not provide structural integrity to our state budget. 
 
The budget provides a starting point for negotiations between the House, Senate and the Governor on policy and a final balanced budget.  Some specifics from the Governor's proposal for K-12 include:

  • An increase of $40 in funding for Q Comp participants, from $260 to $300 per pupil.

  • The creation of a new funding category, Pay for Performance.  This pays districts additional funds based on a growth model as determined by the MCA II scores.

  • Capping integration funding at the FY 2009 levels per pupil.

  • College of Education reforms.

  • Repeal of the contract negotiation deadline penalty and required arbitration, eliminating teachers’ right to strike.

  • Aid payment shifts resulting in a $676,451,000 cut for FY 2010.

  • Property tax shift resulting in a $570,200,000 cut for FY 2010.

Testing continues to be a very strong theme throughout the Governor’s proposal.  The new funding of pay for performance, based on the MCA II’s, runs the risk of driving curriculum to focus narrowly on math and reading skills as determined by a single test. Budget shifts give us cuts without addressing the underlying issue of a lack of integrity within our State Budget.  

In the coming week the House Early Education Finance committee will be reviewing the Governor’s budget proposals for the Early Education budget.  This budget includes funding for Head Start, Community Education, Early Childhood Family Education, and childcare subsidies. The House Education Policy committee will be discussing racial disparities in education achievement.  The House and Senate Education Finance committees will review the Office of Legislative Auditor’s evaluation of Q Comp.  There will also be closed working groups meeting in the House on Integration Revenue, Charter School Reform, Mandate Reductions, Shared Services & Efficiencies, and a Permanent School Trust Fund.

Your MFT lobbyists will be attending these meetings and also will be meeting with members of the House and Senate to represent the interests of Minneapolis’ teachers and students.