Date: 01/22/2014
Final
Presentation by the Joint Budget Committee per Joint Rule 25
COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
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09:51 AM -- Presentation by the Joint Budget Committee per Joint Rule 25
Senator Kerr, Chair, welcomed the committee members and the members of the Colorado Association of School Boards who were in attendance. He invited members of the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) to the table to begin their presentation required under Joint Legislative Rule 25(d). Committee members received copies of the JBC's FY 2014-15 staff budget briefing summary (briefing summary documents may be accessed at: http://www.tornado.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/jbc/2013-14/briefingsummary.htm). Senator Steadman discussed the FY 2014-15 budget request for the Department of Education (CDE), detailing the requested line item appropriations listed in the briefing document and highlighting some issues that are projected to impact the department's budget. Senator Steadman discussed the requested increase in total program funding, which is split between General Fund and State Education Fund (SEF), and requested funding increases for categorical programs. He told the committee about a constitutional mandate to provide a funding increase equal to inflation for categorical programs, and stated that English language learner (ELL) and special education programs historically get annual increases that are larger than inflation. He talked about the specific funding requests made by the department to: improve technology and software systems; implement new statewide assessments; improve technical support to districts for college and career-ready programs; support education recognition programs such as the Colorado Teacher of the Year award; and provide technical support to assist districts with ELL programs and services.
10:00 AM
Senator Steadman continued to review CDE's budget request, specifically discussing an increase in cash funding to cover lease purchase payments for the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program. He told the committee members that the JBC members received briefings from JBC staff members about: the resolution of the Lobato v. Colorado case; school funding; state support for ELLs; early university assessment tools; standardized assessments and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC); and the BEST program. Representative Gerou explained the JBC's role in grant funding for the BEST program and several legislative changes that the JBC will request during the legislative session. The committee discussed the impact of Taxpayer Bill Of Rights (TABOR) and earned income tax credits on BEST funding.
10:08 AM
Representative Holbert commented on the BEST program and the need for bipartisan support. Senator Kerr asked about the excise tax revenue to go towards funding capital construction for schools. Senator Steadman discussed the budget request for the Department of Higher Education (DHE). He reviewed several of the requests, including: a $40 million increase in financial aid for students across the state; a $60 million increase in operational funding for the entire higher education system; a General Fund increase to support the Fort Lewis College Native American tuition waiver; and funding for dependent tuition assistance programs. Senator Steadman told the committee that the JBC received briefings from its staff on the following topics: an analysis of the financial health of various institutions of higher education across the state; an analysis of the status of current laws giving tuition flexibility to institutions; increases to need-based and merit-based financial aid programs; tuition increases and affordability; student loan debt; and outcomes-based funding models for funding institutions of higher education.
10:23 AM
The members of the JBC answered questions from the committee pertaining to caps on tuition increases. Representative Gerou told the committee that the state used to provide two-thirds of higher education funding and students provided the additional one-third, but that the split is now reversed. Representative Murray asked about the financial health of smaller institutions of higher education. Representative Gerou commented on the role of the Capital Development Committee in approving funding for capital construction projects on higher education institution campuses.
10:34 AM
Representative Court stated that competition in the higher education system is undermining the ability of each institution to succeed because they are all competing against each other. The committee discussed issues of affordability and the importance of figuring out how to balance the various funding needs of the SEF.
10:41 AM
The committee discussed the role of the Appropriations Committee in funding higher education institutions.