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MINUTES OF THE
PUBLIC EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Friday,
January 24, 2025
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8:00 a.m.
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110 Senate Building
Members Present:
Sen. Heidi Balderree, Senate Chair
Rep. Stephen L. Whyte, House Chair
Rep. Matt MacPherson, House Vice Chair
Sen. Lincoln Fillmore
Sen. David P. Hinkins
Sen. John D. Johnson
Sen. Ann Millner
Rep. Tiara Auxier
Rep. Steve Eliason
Rep. Tracy J. Miller
Rep. Carol S. Moss
| Rep. Candice B. Pierucci
Rep. Jason E. Thompson
Members Absent:
President J. Stuart Adams
Sen. Luz Escamilla
Rep. Walt Brooks
Staff Present:
Kyra Hudson, Finacial Analyst
Ben Leishman, Finance Manager
Rachelle Gunderson, Financial Analyst
Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Whyte called the meeting to order at 8:05 a.m.. |
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| 1.Line-Item Review: School and Institutional Trust Fund Office |
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| Rachelle Gunderson presented line-item review: SITFO with comments from Peter Madsen, Director, Chief Investment Officer, SITFO and Ryan Kulig, Finance and Operations Officer, SITFO. |
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| 2a. Line-Item Review- SITFO_GS25 |
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| 2b. SITFO Budget Appropriation |
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| Chair Whyte asked for future SITFO recommendations. Peter Madsen responded. |
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| Rep. Thompson asked clarifying questions about the original principle in the trust and what drives the principle in the investments. Madsen responded. |
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| 2.8:25 a.m. Line-Item Review: Minimum School Program - Property Tax Equalization |
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| Ben Leishman presented Minimum School Program - Property Tax Equalization. |
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| 3. Property Tax Equalization_25GS |
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| Rep. Auxier asked how WPU rates impact rural areas with less expensive real estate and asked for a percentage of tax burdens in each area. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Rep. Auxier asked for an explanation of previous years legislative decisions to increase the tax rate. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Sen. Johnson asked for a history of this funding. He also asked how rural schools can receive more funding. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Sen. Fillmore commented on the funding system. |
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| Rep. Auxier asked about the difference in percentage paid by small rural areas compared to urban areas. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Rep. MacPherson asked if there is an equalization formula that takes into account enrollment growth vs decline. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to approve the minutes of January 22, 2025.The motion
passed
with a vote of
12-0-4.
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| Yeas -
12 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
4 | |
Rep. T. Auxier
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Eliason
Sen. L. Fillmore
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. S. Whyte
| | Sen. J. Adams
Rep. W. Brooks
Sen. L. Escamilla
Rep. C. Pierucci
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| Rep. Moss took a personal privledge welcoming students from Skyline High School AP Government class. She also welcomed Ben Horsley, Granite School District Superintendent. |
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| 3.9:05 a.m. Line-Item Review: Minimum School Program - Related to Basic |
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| Rachelle Gunderson presented Related to Basic School Program |
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| 4a. MSP Related to Basic Budget Review_GS25 |
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| Ben Leishman provided further explanation to the presentation. |
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| Rep. Auxier asked if the money being closed out would go to the general income fund. Rachelle Gunderson and Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Rep. Miller asked if the programs being discussed have concluded. Rachelle Gunderson and Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Rep. Miller asked for an explanation of Special Education Impact Aid money. Rachelle Gunderson responded. |
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| Rep. Thompson asked for an explanation of the exclusion of "LEA's with 75% or more special education student population". Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Rep. Eliason asked for an explanation of the recommended cut in the Student Health and Counseling Support program. He also asked if there is a recommendation to address the cut in funding for youth suicide prevention |
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| Rep. Auxier asked for a total in dollar terms for the economically disadvantaged and English language learners. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Rep. MacPerson asked for clarification of the 10-year funding plan of Students At-Risk WPU Add-ons. Ben Leishman responded. |
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| Sen. Milner gave a history of the 10-year plan to phase into statutory weighting levels. |
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| Comments from USBE - Scott Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Operation, USBE, Leah Voorhies, Superintendent of Student Support, ISBE. |
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| 4c. USBE Specific Related to Basic |
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| USBE Specific Related to Basic |
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| 4b. USBE- Related to Basic Program Line Item Funding Requests |
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| Cindy Davis, USBE Board Member, USBE Finance Commission Member, presented USBE Funding Request. |
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| Randy Boothe, Board Member, Finance Committee Member, USBE presented ongoing funding request for Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. |
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| Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program |
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| Sen. Fillmore asked if the state board has taken action on the change in distribution of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. Scott Jones responded. |
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| Rep. MacPherson asked for an explanation of requested funding in the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program. Scott Jones responded. |
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| Rep. Thompson asked for data on how effective the Grow your Own Educator Pipeline program has been. Cindy Davis responded. |
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| Cindy Davis presented Educator Supplemental Programs finance request. |
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| Rep. MacPherson asked if speech therapists are considered "educators" in the schools and why they should be included in the Educator Supplemental Programs funding. Cindy Davis responded. |
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| Ben Leishman asked if the presenter is talking about Educator Salary Adjustment or Teacher Salary Supplement. Scott Jones responded. |
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| 4.10:05 a.m. Line-Item Review: MSP Categorical Program Administration |
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| Rachelle Gunderson presented MSP Categorical Program Administration. |
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| 5a. Line-Item Review- MSP Categorical Program Administration_GS25 |
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| USBE Comments - Scott Jones and Sydnee Dickson, State Superintendent of Public Instructions. |
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| MOTION:Sen. Hinkins moved to adjourn.The motion
passed
with a vote of
10-0-6.
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| Yeas -
10 | Nays-
0 | Abs-
6 | |
Sen. H. Balderree
Rep. S. Eliason
Sen. D. Hinkins
Sen. J. Johnson
Rep. M. MacPherson
Rep. T. Miller
Sen. A. Millner
Rep. C. Moss
Rep. J. Thompson
Rep. S. Whyte
| | Sen. J. Adams
Rep. T. Auxier
Rep. W. Brooks
Sen. L. Escamilla
Sen. L. Fillmore
Rep. C. Pierucci
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| Chair Whyte adjourned the meeting at 10:19 a.m. |
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