House approves 3% increase for K-12 schools

HELENA – The state House gave preliminary approval to a bill that would increase K-12 education funding by 3 percent each year until 2011.

House Bill 15, sponsored by Rep. Dan Villa, D-Anaconda, passed second reading by a vote of 82-18. It is Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s plan to increase the basic entitlement and the total per-student payment by 3 percent in every district across the state.

Villa said the state has increased education funds since last session, and should keep doing so.

“It’s a simple 3 percent,” Villa said. “Here’s an opportunity to keep the momentum going.”

The bill passed with little fuss in the House.

Rep. William Glaser, R-Huntley, said the bill would not fully fund education needs, but he would vote for it because it could work in conjunction with the incoming federal stimulus money.

Rep. Wanda Grinde, D-Billings, said the bill was not perfect and would not give education programs all the money it needs, but it is a good start.

The bill was originally locked up in an 8-8 tie in the education subcommittee, with Republicans opposed. It went to the floor on a second vote from the subcommittee, 11-5.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy