Monday, August 30, 2010
Education School spending increase? Maybe not
Posted by Max Brantley on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 4:46 PM
A legislative panel is backing off an earlier finding that the state needed to increase school spending next year by 2.5 percent and 2.9 percent more the year after that to support a constitutionally adequate education.
Some members thought the group was moving too fast. The recommendation is a chunk of money for a state that has seen a drop in revenues in each of the last two years. But, adequacy is adequacy. The state must pay the cost and then adapt elsewhere, under terms of the Supreme Court's decision on support for education.
With campaigns ahead this fall, I can understand a reluctance to forcefully recommend increased spending for anything, even education, with the inevitable questions about where the money will come from — either taxes or cuts in other popular programs.
Comments (5)
Showing 1-5 of 5
Had the lottery money gone where it should have, to primary&secondary education 'stead of funding more remediation for inadequately schooled"students", perhaps we could be considering questions other than "How can we afford to drag the state's lower education system into the 20th century?"
like
dislike
Do we have a case where the legislative panel is now trying to make its recommendation fit the available funds? Adequate is adequate. I don't think anyone but Keet wants to reopen the Lake View case. It could cost them a lot more than 2.5% and 2.9% since lawyers will get their 30-40% on top and the state will lose in court.
This had to happen eventually. Ignorant legislators are weary of funding something as highfalutin as education. School kids don't wine and dine, they don't even vote. Every dollar spent on schools is a dollar that could have gone to their pork projects. And Beebe has plenty of outstanding promises, for sure. He quickly corralled these jello-spined legislators. Plaintiffs, keep a close watch. The testimony that led to the original committee recommendations in the basis for your next lawsuit. Can't wait to see Hendren explain why 2008 inflation stats ought to be used for 2012!
More by Author
-
Tom Cotton gets McCain endorsement — so?
Republican Tom Cotton, who moved back to Arkansas from D.C. so he could go back to D.C. as a congressman from the 4th District, is boasting today about his endorsement by U.S. Sen. John McCain.
- May 3, 2012
-
UPDATE: The foreclosure legislation
Sen. Michael Lamoureux tells me that the legislation that was written to bail out out-of-state mortgage lenders and service companies doing business in Arkansas without proper registration is going back to Joint Budget for possible amendments.
- Feb 29, 2012
- More »
Event Calendar
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line
Old habits die hard.
- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: Surgeon general strikes deal on disturbance charges
I may be nothing more than a "Monday morning quarterback." but I still say if…
- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: Riverfest eve open line
Now the porn stars are claiming that Bill Clinton had his Secret Service agents arrange…
- on May 24, 2012
Top Commenters
Blogroll
Slideshows
-
Police close the Occupy Little Rock camp, perhaps the last Occupy encampment on public land.
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
