The South Dakota House of Representatives offered a resounding endorsement Tuesday for extending local flexibility to spend capital outlay revenue, passing SB 111 on a 61-8 vote. The bill now heads to the governor, who is expected to sign the measure.

With the passage of SB 111, schools will be able to use up to 45 percent of their capital outlay revenue to pay for some insurance, energy, fuel and transportation costs. The flexibility was extended two years ago, but is set to expire June 30, 2012. If signed by the governor, it will allow those expenditures through FY14.

Supporters asked lawmakers to give schools another tool to make it through difficult financial times. The few who opposed the measure did so in protest against shifting more of the burden for K-12 funding onto local property tax payers.