A bill adjusting the way tax revenue from wind energy tax can be used by school districts breezed through its first legislative chamber.

 

On a 14-0 vote, the House Education committee passed House Bill 1066, which authorizes the transfer of wind energy tax revenue from a school district general fund, and on a 68-0 vote it passed the House.

 

The bill permits a school district to transfer revenue from the wind energy tax to its capital outlay fund on annual basis so long as the district exceeds the average teacher compensation rate.

 

The transfer must be done within the 10-year time period allowed by law for a district to count its wind energy tax revenue as local effort and must be separately identified so it may not be transferred back to the general fund.

 

Deuel School Board Member Michelle Prins testified the bill “will give school boards local control to be fiscally responsible.”

 

ASBSD is monitoring the bill, which now heads to the House floor for review and vote.

 

For updates on this bill and others, check the ASBSD Blog and Bill Tracker page.