Wyoming Education Association

Fall 2017

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17 This summer legislative committees have been at work reviewing issues relating to school funding. The Joint Appropriations Committee, the Joint Interim Education Committee, the Joint Interim Revenue Committee, the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration, and the Select Committee on School Facilities have each met to consider Wyoming's $272 million shortfall in education funding. Joint Appropriations Committee: The Joint Appropriations Committee meeting included a discussion of state employee benefits. Although no decision regarding state employee benefits was made at this meeting, WEA will keep an eye on the Appropriations Committee work and any impact to the state employee benefit program. Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration: During the 2017 Wyoming legislative session, the legislature decided to consider recalibration of the school funding model. In July, the Joint Education Interim Committee (JEIC) announced the hiring of Denver-based Augenblick, Palaich & Associates (APA) as consultants to lead the study of school funding in Wyoming. Included in the study will be a close look at the "basket of goods" and class size, two areas directly affecting the quality of education students receive. In August, APA hosted four regional meetings to collect input from practitioners. Each meeting included two sessions: one to discuss the impact of the state's educational program and one to address the current funding model. APA plans to spend 6 months on the study, wrapping up in late January in time for recommendations for the 2018 Legislative Session. Joint Revenue Committee/Joint Education Committee: During the 2017 legislative session, the Joint Revenue Interim Committee (JRIC) was charged with a global review of the Wyoming tax structure, including the diversion of existing revenue streams or sources to offset the deficit in state government and public-school funding. The Management Council identified nine priorities to be considered by the JRIC: Wyoming tax structure and revenue streams, gross tax receipts, a review of fees, a fiscal impact model for diversified industries, the lodging tax, tobacco and alcohol tax, the statute of limitations on the excise tax, an evaluation of local government revenue options, and financial obligations to the state and the enforcement mechanisms used to collect on those obligations. In June, the JRIC and the JEIC met to discuss the impact declining revenue is having on school budgets and the delivery of education to students. The JRIC met again in August to review and identify new revenue sources. The discussion included broadening the state sales tax to include services, a gross receipts tax, the property tax assessment rate, tobacco, alcohol (wine, spirits, and malt beverages), and wind tax proposals. The concluding sentiment from the JRIC was that everything is on the table as a viable revenue source to address the funding deficit in Wyoming. Senate President Eli Bebout testified that he wants to see more cuts to education before the legislature raises taxes in Wyoming. Select Committee on School Facilities/Capital Construction: The Select Committee on School Facilities met in June to discuss capital construction and major maintenance. Capital Construction: During the 2017 legislative session, the legislature repealed W.S. Action WEA News Legislative Report: Sept. 2017 Tammy Schroeder Government Relations Director tschroeder@wyoea.org

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