Utah Legislature: Lawmakers mull education cuts

SALT LAKE CITY — Keeping schoolchildren in mind, lawmakers are continuing to mull how deep of cuts public education can take.

The cochairmen of the Legislature's Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee presented their committee's proposal to the Executive Appropriations Committee Wednesday night.

It could be weeks before final decisions are made regarding state budgets for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The proposal for now is to cut 5 percent from public education across the board.

"Programs can accommodate the 5 percent cut," said Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, cochairman of the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

However, reducing the per-pupil spending results in class sizes going up and teacher salaries and benefits going down. If more funding arises, it should be added back into the weighted pupil unit, Stephenson said.

— Amy K. Stewart