Lawmakers set to approve record funding for education

Education is likely to receive an unprecedented $527.9 million in funding under a budget deal announced this afternoon by House and Senate leadership.

Under the deal, public education will receive $459.5 million. Higher education will receive $68.4 million.

"This level of funding for education is both historic and necessary," Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said in a statement. "Both students and teachers win. When the session began we made education our number one priority and we have followed through and put education first."

The deal is expected to be approved tonight during an Executive Appropriations Committee scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Lawmakers will then have to approve the deal on both the House and Senate floor, respectively.

All other aspects of the budget, including a $1 billion bond for transportation, $9 million for the Drug Offenders Reform Act, and $8 million to help Utah Valley State College become a university, are also expected to be approved tonight in Executive Appropriations.

Both the House and Senate budget chairs said during a press briefing today that the budget items approved tonight can still change during the last three days of the session, which ends on Wednesday next week.

The first hints of the budget deal were given Thursday, when House Majority Whip Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, said that education could be the big winner in the final budget this year.

"I think we're going to fund education at record levels," he said, although he did not elaborate on specific numbers.

Last year, education received a record total of $242.9 million in new funding.

This year, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. called for $316 million in new funding for education in his budget — a significant increase over last year.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich, D-Price, said that ideally Democrats would like to see as much of that as possible go to the weighted pupil unit, which is the primary funding source for public education.

Last year, the WPU was increased by 6 percent. Under today's budget deal, the WPU only increased 4 percent, but that doesn't include a significant salary increase for teachers, and other compensation.

Thursday, the House approved a bill that would provide $105 million to give teachers a $2,500 raise and a $1,000 bonus. With that added in, lawmakers say the equivalent would be a 7 percent WPU increase.

Patti Harrington, state superintendent over public instruction said she was pleased with the recommendations. "It's hearting to know how strongly the Legislature feels in helping our schools succeed and our teachers have the support they need."

nwarburton@desnews.com; terickson@desnews.com