FISCAL NOTE
Date Requested: January 23, 2015
Time Requested: 12:03 PM |
| Agency: |
Education, Department of |
|---|
| CBD Number: |
Version: |
Bill Number: |
Resolution Number: |
| 2073 |
Introduced |
HB2228 |
|
|---|
| 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 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 existing counties which exceed the proposed ratio.
Fiscal Note Detail
| Effect of Proposal |
Fiscal Year |
2015
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
2016
Increase/Decrease
(use"-") |
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation) |
| 1. Estmated Total Cost |
0 |
12,693,084 |
12,693,084 |
| Personal Services |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Current Expenses |
0 |
1,896,322 |
1,896,322 |
| Repairs and Alterations |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Assets |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Other |
0 |
10,796,762 |
10,796,762 |
| 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) to fund one counselor for every 350 students is $1,896,322. This includes the increase in Step 5 (salaries), Step 3 (fixed costs), Step 6 (current expense/substitutes/faculty senate) and retirement. This estimated cost is based on the computation that 28.61 additional counselors would need to be funded to meet this required ratio.
The allowance under Step 5 of PSSP, however, provides funding for both counselors and nurses, defined as professional student support personnel, but since the proposed bill includes a funding ratio for counselors only, it would increase the number of professional student support personnel funded under Step 5 by just 28.61. Assuming that the county boards would continue to employee the same number of nurses as are currently employed, they would need to employ 179.57 additional professional student support personnel at an estimated cost of $10,796,762, which would be a cost incurred from local funds.
Memorandum
Person submitting Fiscal Note: Brenda Freed
Email Address: bfreed@k12.wv.us