Representatives voted 33-41 against HB278, which would have replaced some of the money the state now gives charter schools for students with local district money. The idea was to make sure charter school students were funded at levels similar to traditional public school students, said bill sponsor Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley City.

Currently, the state helps fund charter schools partly to make up for the fact they can't raise taxes like school districts can.

The bill, however, would have meant less money for some charter schools and less money for some districts, including Alpine, Nebo, Davis and Weber, Bigelow said. That concerned legislators including Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, who said Davis School District could lose more than $1 million.

"We need to focus on equalization and funding at the state level rather than shifting this back to local," said Rep. John Dougall, R-American Fork.

lschencker@sltrib.com

HB278

It would have replaced some of the money the state now gives charter schools for students with district money. The idea was to make sure charter school students were funded at levels similar to traditional public school students, said bill sponsor.