LTISDLegislative Priorities

84th Regular Session, 2015

Session V – February 26, 2015

Areas of Focus

Public School Funding Academics & Accountability Local Schools and Governance

Public School Funding

Most critical issue this session for LTISD Given current structure and funding, LTISD:

has to operate on $4.5 M less than prior to 2011 cuts in funding

will lose an estimated $5.7 M of state funding annually starting in 2017

ASATR

Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR) was promised to school districts by the legislature in 2005 to cover shortfalls caused by the state-mandated compression of the local tax rate

In 2011, the legislature voted to immediately underfund and permanently eliminate ASATR in 2017 without securing another funding source

A small number of districts, including LTISD, still have funding classified as ASATR

Fulfill Promise of ASATR funding

Restoration and maintenance of ASATR wouldeliminate LTISD’s budget shortfall concerns

Increase the Basic Allotment

The basic allotment and the number of students in average daily attendance are used to calculate a district’s state funding

An increase in the basic allotment is the most equitable way to distribute funding among school districts under the current system

The Local Optional Homestead Exemption Credit LTISD offers local taxpayers a 20% optional

homestead exemption LTISD’s recapture (Robin Hood) payment is based

on 100% of taxable value, though LTISD never sees 20% of that value

Current law allows the state to give districts offering a homestead exemption a credit of ½ of the value of the exemption in the finance system, but it has not been funded in the last several years.

The Impact of These 2 Changeslegislature increases the

basic allotment and funds the local optional homestead exemption

credit

reduces the amount of funding classified as ASATR for LTISD and replaces it with other state fundingdecreases the amount LTISD

must pay in recapture to the state

virtually eliminates LTISD’s budget shortfall concerns

Fund the TRS System State-Required Contribution Legislature raised every school district’s

required contribution to TRS by 1.5% annually The state paid for the increase for 2014-15, but

under current law, districts will be responsible for the contribution in 2015-16

LTISD’s fee is approximately $560K annually, and will increase every year as payroll costs increase

Academics & Accountability

Support allowing schools time to implement graduation requirements of 2013’s HB 5

Support adequate funding of Instructional Materials Allotment

Support state funding for full-day pre-K

Local Public Schools & Governance Oppose any initiative to divert public tax

dollars from public schools (including vouchers)

Support providing local school boards more flexibility in creating the local school calendar

CLASS Project Intranet Site:www.ltisdschools.org/ltclassproject1415