Two bills tied closely to school district’s receiving the proposed three percent funding increase cleared another hurdle on Tuesday.

 

Members of the House State Affairs committee passed Senate Bill’s 157 and 158 on 9-4 votes, respectively.

 

ASBSD supports both bills. Executive Director Wade Pogany testified the bills are much needed for schools in order for them to receive the three percent increase, which he said is “necessary to sustain our school districts.”

 

Senate Bill 157 provides an appropriation of $30 million spread over the next three years to the Building South Dakota fund. Senate Bill 158 revises certain funding provisions of the Building South Dakota fund and provides any surplus dollars from the fiscal year to the Building S.D. fund if the state’s reserves are at or above 10 percent of the state’s general fund budget.

 

Opponents of the bills noted they supported the concept, but were worried about a provision that called for a $10 million cap on deposits to the Building S.D. fund in any one fiscal year.

 

An amendment was approved by the committee to remove language that could potentially cap deposits to the fund.

 

Each bill heads to the House floor for vote.

 

For updates on these bills, check the ASBSD Blog and Bill Tracker page.