FISCAL NOTE
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 a funding ratio of 350/1 of students and school counselors. The bill would allow counties to set their own caseload standards so long as these are equally distributed at each academic level in the county. The bill would also grandfather in existing counties which exceed the proposed ratio.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2013
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2014
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
9,587,092 |
9,587,092 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
1,550,334 |
1,550,334 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
8,036,758 |
8,036,758 |
| 2. Estimated Total Revenues |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):
The estimated cost to the State to change the calculation of the Step 5 foundation allowance under the Public School Support Program (PSSP) is $1,550,334. This includes the increase in Step 5 (salaries), Step 3 (fixed costs), Step 6 (current expense/substitutes) and retirement.
The allowance under Step 5 of PSSP provides funding for both counselors and nurses; however, the proposed legislation calculates the funding based on a counselor ratio of 350:1. While nothing in the proposed legislation requires a county to have a minimum counselor ratio of 350:1, assuming that the counties continue to employ the same number of school nurses, it is estimated that County Boards of Education would need to fund 151.64 additional counselors, at an estimated cost of $8,036,758, in order to meet the 350:1 ratio for counselors.
Memorandum
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
Email Address: bfreed@access.k12.wv.us