| Members Present: Sen. Heidi Balderree, Senate Chair Rep. Stephen L. Whyte, House Chair Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, Senate Vice Chair Rep. Matt MacPherson, House Vice Chair 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. Jason E. Thompson |
Members Absent: President J. Stuart Adams Sen. Luz Escamilla Rep. Walt Brooks Rep. Candice B. Pierucci Staff Present: Ben Leishman, Finance Manager Rachelle Gunderson, Senior Financial Analyst Kiki Hudson, Financial Analyst Tisha Gibby, Committee Secretary Jennifer Kunzler, 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 8:10 AM. |
| 1.8:00 a.m. Call to Order/Approval of Minutes – January 21, 2026 |
| Chair White welcomed all in attendance and praised the level of educational excellence found in the State of Utah. |
| 2.8:05 a.m. Recognition of Excellence in Education |
| 2a. Recognition of Excellence in Education - Canyons SD Elementary |
| 2b. Recognition of Excellence in Education - Canyons SD Elementary Flyer |
| McKay Robinson, Assistant Superintendent, Canyons School District, presented. |
| Sen. Balderree expressed appreciation to the Canyon School District. |
| 3.8:15 a.m. Mid-Year Update |
| Rachelle Gunderson presented the Mid-Year Update. |
| 3a. USBE FY26 Mid-year Updates, Ending Balance Projections |
| Sam Urie, School Finance Director, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), and Dale Frost, Minimum School Program Administrator and Fiscal Policy Analyst, USBE, presented the Minimum School Program. |
| Rep. Miller asked for clarification on changes to the Local Levy program. Sam Urie responded. |
| Chair Whyte requested additional information on savings use. Sam Urie and Ben Leishman responded. |
| Rep. Auxier asked clarifying questions on bonds. Sam Urie and Ben Leishman responded. |
| Rep. Miller asked clarifying questions. Ben Leishman and Sam Urie responded. |
| Rep. MacPherson requested additional information on balance increases. Sam Urie responded. |
| Ben Leishman clarified tax rates. |
| Sam Urie continued the presentation. |
| Rep. Thompson asked for clarification on balance projections. Sam Urie and Ben Leishman responded. |
| Rep. Auxier asked questions about the Stabilization Fund. Ben Leishman responded. |
| 4.8:35 a.m. Line-Item Review: School and Institutional Trust Fund Office |
| Rachelle Gunderson gave an overview on the School and Institutional Trust Fund Office. |
| 4a. SITFO Budget Appropriation |
| Ryan Kulig, Finance and Operations Officer, School and Institutional Trust Fund Office (SITFO), and Angelique Pappas, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, SITFO, presented. |
| Chair Whyte expressed appreciation and asked about future concerns. Ryan Kulig responded. |
| Rep. Miller provided comment. |
| Rep. Thompson asked for clarification on how the principle is grown and funds are spent. Ryan Kulig responded. |
| Sen. Millner, Rep Moss, and Sen Hinkins provided comment. |
| 5.8:55 a.m. Budget Outlook |
| 5. PED Budget Introductions_26GS |
| Chair Whyte gave an overview of the budget. |
| 5a. LFA Budget Reduction Recommendations |
| Ben Leishman gave an overview of the State Budget. |
| Sen Hinkins asked about budget cuts. Ben Leishman responded. |
| Sen Hinkins provided comment. |
| Sen. Millner asked for clarification on the base budget. Ben Leishman responded. |
| Ben Leishman continued the presentation. |
| Rep. MacPherson asked for clarification on non-lapsing balances. Ben Leishman responded |
| Ben Leishman continued the presentation. |
| Rachelle Gunderson made recommendations. |
| Kiki Hudson made recommendations. |
| Chair Whyte thanked the staff. |
| Rep. Auxier requested more information on program details. Kiki Hudson responded. |
| Rep Moss asked for clarification on early literacy closure. Kiki Hudson responded. |
| Rep. Miller asked for clarification on reductions of salary. Ben Leishman and Sen. Fillmore responded. |
| Sen. Fillmore asked for clarification on flexible allocation reductions. Rachelle Gunderson responded. |
| 5bi. USBE Reduction Plan 1 |
| 5bii. USBE Reduction Plan 2 |
| Matt Hymas, Chair, Utah State Board of Education (USBE), Amanda Bollinger, Vice Chair, USBE, and Scott Jones, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, USBE, presented recommendations. |
| Sen Fillmore asked questions about the total spending. Amanda Bollinger responded. |
| Matt Hymas continued the presentation. |
| Sen. Filmore asked for clarification about reductions. Matt Hymas responded. |
| Rep. MacPherson asked about other spending reviews. Matt Hymas and Scott Jones responded. |
| Rep. Auxier questioned the Board about cuts to literacy, dual immersion, CTE and other clarifying questions. Matt Hymas and Scott Jones responded. |
| Chair Whyte asked the Board about the Prioritized Funding List. Matt Hymas responded and continued the presentation. |
| 5biii. USBE Prioritized Funding Requests |
| Rep MacPherson thanked the Board for their recommendations and asked questions on funding requests. Matt Hymas responded. |
| Rep Moss expressed gratitude to the Board and asked for clarification on paraprofessionals. Amanda Bollinger responded. |
| 5c. Governor FY27 Public Education Recommendations |
| Rich Nye, Senior Advisor for Education, Governor's Office, and Kate Bradford, Senior Budget and Policy Analyst, Governor's Office, presented. |
| MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to approve the minutes from the January 21, 2026 meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 9-0-7. | |||
| Yeas - 9 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 7 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Sen. H. Balderree Rep. S. Eliason Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Rep. M. MacPherson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. S. Whyte | Sen. J. Adams Rep. W. Brooks Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson |
| 6.Agency Fee Review |
| 6. PED FY27 Fee List |
| Kiki Hudson presented the Agency Fee Review. |
| Chair Whyte thanked Kiki Hudson and noted the location where fees can be found online. |
| MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to adjourn.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-9. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 9 | |
| Rep. T. Auxier Rep. S. Eliason Sen. D. Hinkins Sen. J. Johnson Rep. T. Miller Rep. C. Moss Rep. S. Whyte | Sen. J. Adams Sen. H. Balderree Rep. W. Brooks Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. L. Fillmore Rep. M. MacPherson Sen. A. Millner Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. J. Thompson |
| Chair Whyte adjourned the meeting at 10:35 AM. |