The chairman of the Legislature’s interim Education Funding Committee says it’s going to take substantially more money in the upcoming biennium to fund the per-pupil payments on a “hold even” basis.
Sen. Tim Flakoll (R-Fargo) also chairs the Senate Education Committee. He told the interim committee the latest estimate from the Department of Public Instruction shows an increase of 13,000 students.
"If we were able to hold even, it would take about $200 million new dollars to hold evenm based upon enrollment trends for the average daily membership," said Flakoll.
Flakoll says he knows there will a lot of demand for money in the 2015 Legislature . And he says if North Dakota voters approve a Constitutional amendment for conservation, it would take another $400 million off the table.
"Anyone who's familiar with me knows that I will always put people and pupils ahead of pigeons and potholes," said Flakoll.
Rep. Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck) chairs the House Education Committee. He says he, too, is concerned about the ramifications of that Constitutional measure.
"That would not only reverberate across all budgets, but it would affect the education in North Dakota -- K-12, Higher Ed -- as well as infrastructure and taxes," said Nathe.
Flakoll says DPI predicts more than 110,000 students will be enrolled in North Dakota schools in the next biennium.
