Education Funding

Each year since Gov. Spencer Cox took office there has been an uptick in the total money pitched for the state budget. This year’s ask is $30.6 billion.

The Utah State Board of Education has already requested an additional $100 million, but Republican Rep. Ryan Wilcox said he thinks it’ll be closer to $800 million.

Amendment B asks Utah voters, “Shall the Utah Constitution be amended to increase the limit on the annual distributions from the State School Fund to public schools from 4% to 5% of the fund?”

The bond would be used to rebuild Highland and West high schools, as well as go toward district sustainability projects.

Amendment A has gone the way of Amendment D. It’s still on your ballot, but no votes for or against it will be counted. That said, understanding A is important because it's likely to rise again...

The amendment sought to get rid of the constitutional earmark that says Utah’s income tax revenue can only be used for education and certain social services.

Utah lawmakers have tried and failed to do away with the state sales tax on food. Now the tax is a bargaining chip in a vote over a state constitutional amendment.

During a special legislative session, lawmakers approved two resolutions that could jeopardize federal education funding.

Earlier this year, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law a massive school security bill that only has $100 million of one-time funding. Some school district officials say it won’t be nearly enough.

“The ‘microschooling’ term definitely means different things to different people. And it’s still evolving,” said Tulane University economics professor Douglas Harris.

Lawmakers increased Utah’s per-pupil funding by 5%, which is 1.2% more than they were required to increase it.

The problem Utah educators have with the bill is that it doesn’t provide any state funding to make up for the funds schools will lose.