Note: This year IFF rated maintenance bills according to a more refined system. This is an enhancement bill, and will be rated as a standalone bill. IFF will only consider enhancement line items in these ratings. This means that FTP reductions passed in maintenance legislation will not be evaluated here, among other things.
Bill Description: Senate Bill 1444 is an enhancement of $2,189,600 and 0.00 full-time positions for the Public School Support Program’s Student Support Division for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $1,702,435,600 and 0.00 full-time positions to the agency.
Rating: 0
Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?
This legislation authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the Student Support Division of $2,189,600. Last year this division did not have an enhancement budget. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.
This legislation includes several ongoing enhancements. The first of these is an increase in Federal Spending Authority ($7,800,000 FF) to match received federal funds. This legislation makes the same change for FY26 as a supplemental, due to the ongoing and immediate need to match federal grants with spending authority.
(-1)
The second is a negative enhancement (reduction) that cuts transportation funding for virtual schools ($3,000,000 GF).
(+1)
Enhancements three and four include a net-zero shift due to endowment fund adjustments and a reduction due to Population Forecast Adjustments ($2,610,400 GF). Both of these are mandated by statute.
(0)
Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?
This legislation authorizes onetime spending reduction for the Student Support Division of $7,500,000. Last year this division did not have an enhancement budget. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing spending, which is to be expected due to the onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.
This onetime reduction of $7,500,000 is the result of a reduction in distributions for eligible transportation costs, effectively undoing a hidden change from last legislative session for FY27 only.
(+1)
Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?
This legislation appropriates $7,800,000 in new federal enhancements to the agency. This represents a commitment to continued reliance on borrowed federal dollars, deepening the dependence on the federal government and violating the principles of federalism.
(-1)
