Utah could lose millions in federal school aid next year if the Education Department continues its plan to use Census data from 1980 instead of 1990 in funding formulas.
That upsets Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah."Sadly, the number of poor children in Utah (the basis for many federal formulas) has increased by 46.4 percent since 1980. Using 1980 Census figures instead of those from 1990 will mean a loss of $3.4 million to Utah," he said.
He noted that Education Secretary Lamar Alexander announced in April that the 1980 data would be used because county-by-county figures from 1990 were not expected until the end of summer.
However, those figures were released much earlier than expected, on May 29 - in time for use in upcoming disbursements in July. So Owens said the newer figures should be used.
"When there is no longer any rationale for a bad policy decision, the decision ought to be changed - especially if that policy is harmful to education," Owens said.
Owens' staff on Friday was rounding up signatures on a letter to Alexander by members of the Utah congressional delegation asking him to use the 1990 figures. As of Friday morning, Rep. Bill Orton, D-Utah, had signed the letter, but other offices were reviewing it.
The letter said, "Utah is already shortchanged when it comes to receiving federal education money. Our state simply cannot afford the additional burden of the loss of more of our education dollars."
Recent Education Department studies ordered through legislation passed by Owens and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, found that Utah receives far less federal school funds per pupil than any other state.
Part of the problem comes because slow, once-a-decade Census updates do not show how fast the school-age population in Utah grows.
Another problem is federal formulas that reward states that pay high amounts per pupil in local money. Utah pays relatively little because with its numerous large families, it has a huge number of schoolchildren per taxpayer.
With that situation, Utah still has one of the highest local tax burdens per taxpayer for education.
The Utah delegation is jointly pushing a bill to rework those formulas, and has found a method that would benefit a majority of states - which helps its chances of passage.
Owens hopes the bill will be considered soon in the House. The Senate earlier this year rejected an attempt by Hatch to amend spending bills with the new formula, but Hatch obtained promises from Senate leaders to look closely at new formulas next year.