The agency will ask legislators for $3.1 billion to fund education in fiscal 2007, a 12.7 percent increase that amounts to $346 million more than last year's $2.74 billion budget. The state Board of Education approved the proposed budget this week.
"A significant amount [of the request] is simply a matter of maintaining current programs. We are trying to provide the same services for a growing number of students at higher costs for inflation, heating and health and accident insurance," said Patrick Ogden, state associate superintendent for data and business.
While the Legislature last year denied funding for the math initiative and tutoring help for students trying to pass the test needed to graduate from high school (UBSCT), Ogden remains "cautiously optimistic" about getting that funding this year. The math initiative will cost $16 million while the tutoring program adds another $6 million.
The Legislature only partially funded transportation costs last year, but Ogden says the governor's office and legislators are more sympathetic this year. Ogden is hopeful that the nearly $25 million increase earmarked for transportation to and from school will be included in Gov. Huntsman's budget, which he will release Friday.
Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, a member of the public education appropriations subcommittee, says a 12 percent increase is unlikely.
"It's a good year for revenues, but anything north of 10 percent sounds unrealistic. I don't know where the increase will end up, but I'd predict between 6 and 8.5 percent," he said. "However, I have 103 colleagues who may not agree with me."
The education office is projecting about 14,700 new Utah students next year, according to state economist Patty Murphy. Educating those students will cost nearly $67 million more. In addition to that money, the state is requesting a 5 percent increase in the Weighted Pupil Unit (the $2,182 spent on every student), which would amount to about $101 million. The increase was calculated to cover future inflation and to make up for previous years when inflation exceeded the funding, Ogden said.
The proposed budget includes $2.5 million for a kindergarten through third-grade reading program, but does not allot any money for all-day kindergarten, something many State Board of Education members expect Huntsman to propose on Friday.
The board's request for a four-year, $20 million program to boost teacher salaries and reduce class size is not included in the budget. Members hope lawmakers will fund that program separately.
The budget also includes $903,000 to restore the Carson Smith Special Education voucher program, $6.1 million in one-time funding for teacher supplies and $3.3 million to hire 56 new guidance counselors across the state.
smcfarland@sltrib.com
Where money would go
The Utah state Office of Education will present its largest budget request ever - $3.1 billion - to the Utah Legislature. Here is where a large chunk of the money would go:
* Weighted pupil unit: $101 million
* Enrollment growth: $67 million
* Transportation: $25 million
* Grades four through six math initiative: $16 million
* Graduation exam (UBSCT) tutoring: $6.1 million
* 56 new guidance counselors: $3.3 million
