Gov. Mike Leavitt wants public schools to receive at least 10 percent more state money than last year — the biggest recommended budget increase in memory.
The current state public schools budget is $1.9 billion.
"It is an aggressive and bold budget," Leavitt told the Deseret News today. "I think it should be received very well."
Leavitt gave teachers and school bosses a budget preview in a brief e-mail this morning. The message does not contain dollar figures or his recommendation for the weighted pupil unit, the state's basic per-student funding formula. Figures are being worked out and will be presented Monday, Leavitt said.
"When additions to the weighted pupil unit, funding for textbooks, improved teacher salaries and other increases are totaled, the proposal will be a double-digit percentage increase. My proposal includes a continued aggressive reading initiative and funds that districts can use for class size reduction," the e-mail states.
Leavitt was set to reveal his budget proposal for colleges this afternoon.
"Like Monday's (public education budget) announcement, today's higher-education event will reflect a profound commitment to long-term improvement," the e-mail stated.
Leavitt's public education budget proposal will include money for a statewide testing system to boost school accountability. It also will give "special attention" to recruiting and keeping top-notch teachers in high-demand subject areas. When asked if that would include signing bonuses, Leavitt said to wait and see.
Proposed increases could be funded with additional revenues, economic growth and setting the right priorities, Leavitt said.
Lawmakers could have more than $500 million in new revenue in a $7 billion budget to tinker with in the 2001 session, which begins in mid-January. Only one other time in the 1990s did legislators have that kind of new money to spend, House Majority Leader Kevin Garn has said.
Still, Senate President-elect Al Mansell, R-Sandy, said he didn't know if GOP legislative budget-setters could do as well as Leavitt would like for schools.
"It depends on how the rest of his budget is put together and if our revenue estimates next year match his," said Mansell, who was reached at the Henry Ford estate outside Detroit, where he attended meetings of the Counsel of State Governments.
"We'll make a real solid" financial commitment to schools in the 2001 Legislature, Mansell said. "The only thing that could harm that (effort) is the UEA (members) and their bad behavior."
The Utah Education Association will be a wild card in the 2001 legislative session. Tuesday, 80 percent of Utah teachers walked out of school to protest the state's lack of a long-term school funding plan. Recommendations from a school funding task force included $30.6 million for textbooks, among other infusions and potential revenues, but no long-term funding sources, UEA President Phyllis Sorensen has said. Teachers also have threatened a February job action if things don't shape up the way they'd like.
Sorensen withheld applause today for Leavitt's budget until she could find out more details.
"I'm anxious to see what it really is, and I think every teacher in the state of Utah is, too," she said.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Laing was enthusiastic about the governor's e-mail.
"Wonderful! Glad to hear double digits. That's good," he said. "I think we have a good chance (of realizing such an increase) this year because of the revenue forecasts and expressed desire of lawmakers to focus on the needs of education."
The State Board of Education's budget proposal includes increases "up in the 20 percent range," including a 9 percent WPU increase, which would cost around $150 million, Laing said. Five percent of the WPU hike would be used as usual in teacher contract negotiations; the other 4 percent would go to districts to use however they choose under the school board's proposal.
House Minority Whip Patrice Arent, D-South Cottonwood, like Mansell, had not seen Leavitt's full proposal. But she welcomed the budget's preliminary concepts with "cautious optimism." Democrats last year suggested hiking the schools budget by more than 11 percent.
"We hope it has some kind of long-term commitment to public education funding and addresses a number of critical problems, including the dramatic increase in student numbers we'll see soon," Arent said.
Utah schools can expect about 100,000 new students over the next decade.
Last year, Leavitt recommended a 7.4 percent increase in funding for public schools, including a 6 percent increase in the weighted pupil unit.
The 2000 Legislature gave schools a 7 percent overall infusion, including a 5.5 percent WPU increase, more than double the 1999 increase.
Contributing: Bob Bernick Jr.
E-MAIL: jtcook@desnews.com