FISCAL NOTE

Date Requested: March 25, 2017
Time Requested: 10:12 AM
Agency: Education, WV Department of
CBD Number: Version: Bill Number: Resolution Number:
3024 Comm. Sub. SB609
CBD Subject: Education (K12)


FUND(S):



Sources of Revenue:

Other Fund N/A

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


The purpose of this bill is to create additional flexibility for school systems in the use of school aid funds. The total estimated cost savings to the State under the Public School Support Plan (PSSP) for the 2017-18 year and thereafter is $79,249,103. This reduction in state aid funding to the county boards of education has the opportunity to be completely offset by increased regular levy tax collections if the county boards of education opt to increase their regular levy rate to the maximum rates as permitted by the proposed legislation.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2017
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2018
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 0 -79,249,103 -79,249,103
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 -79,249,103 -79,249,103
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):


The total estimated cost savings to the State for the proposed legislation is $79,249,103. The majority of the cost savings ($81,064,757) is due to the change in the local share calculation that assumes the regular levy rate is at the maximum rate (22.95 cents for Class I property). These cost savings are offset partially by the additional cost of $1,815,654 for the other provisions of the proposed legislation. The reduction in state aid funding to the county boards of education has the opportunity to be completely offset by increased regular levy tax collections if the county boards of education opt to increase their regular levy tax rate to the maximum rates as permitted by the proposed legislation. Due to the significant loss in overall funding if a county board of education fails to increase the levy rate to the maximum, it is anticipated that the majority of county boards would opt to increase the levy rate. However, because this would be a local decision, we cannot say with certainty that all county boards will increase the levy rate. A portion of the additional cost for the other provisions of the proposed legislation is related to those county boards of education that currently employ less professional educators and service personnel than the allowable amount calculated per the enrollment limits and are therefore funded for the lower number actually employed. The proposed legislation funds the county boards at the enrollment limits even if the personnel are not actually employed by the county board. The estimated cost for funding at the enrollment limits for the 2017-18 year is $421,533. This consists of an increase in Step 1 (Allowance for Professional Educators) of $282,945, Step 2 (Allowance for Service Personnel) of $23,849, Step 3 (Allowance for Fixed Charges) of $26,415, Step 6b (Allowance for Substitutes) of $7,670, Retirement of $25,729 and PEIA of $54,925. The remaining additional cost is due to the change in the calculation of Step 6a - Allowance for Current Expense. The proposed change is estimated to cost an additional $1,394,121 for the 2017-18 school year. The estimated cost savings for the proposed legislation would vary each year depending on the changes in student enrollment and county personnel that sometimes result in county boards of education employing less personnel than allowed by the state aid funding formula (i.e. being under formula). The estimated cost for Step 6a will also vary due to square footage changes throughout the state, changes in the actual maintenance and operations costs incurred by the county boards of education, and changes in student enrollment. The estimated local share impact will vary annually based on the assessed property values.



Memorandum


There are several provisions included in the proposed legislation that would have no fiscal impact on the State. • There is no anticipated cost to the State for the proposed changes to WVC 18-9A-6a. The revised language matches the calculation currently performed by the WV Department of Education (WVDE). • There is no anticipated cost to the State for the additional flexibility granted under WVC 18-9A-7 allowing the use of bus replacement funds up to $200,000 for alternate purposes. This flexibility does not change the way the funding is calculated under the PSSP. • There is no estimated additional cost to the State for the additional proposed flexibility allowing county boards of education to utilize a portion of their Step 7b funding to employ Technology System Specialists (TSS) under 18-9A-10. This flexibility does not increase the overall amount of Step 7b funding. In addition, there is no estimated additional cost to the State to allow flexibility in allowing the county boards of education to spend up to 25% of their Step 7a funds for alternate purposes or up to 50% of their Step 7b funds for alternate purposes. • There is no estimated cost to the State regarding the proposed change to WVC 18-9A-10(a)(4) regarding the timing of the payments by WVDE into the School Building Capital Improvements Fund. WVDE currently transfers the funds in accordance with the expenditure schedule approved by the state budget office as specified in the proposed language.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
    Email Address: bfreed@k12.wv.us