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Understand the consequences of underfunded K-12 students |
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Building & Facility Info — Schools are buildings of business |
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News Flash - Students Attend Schools in Buildings! This page is in progress, thanks for your patience — Every day over 1 million students enter, learn and leave public school buildings. But much of the budgets that build and maintain those facilities are unrelated. Worse, the budgets often overlap in ways that are, or perhaps should be, equally unrelated. Some budget allocations are to pay for instructional materials or heating bills! Capital budgets as well as a district’s operating budgets are significantly affected by state funding sources and processes. What Are School Buildings Expected To Do? Like any professional service building housing any specialized business, school buildings are purpose-built and dedicated in service delivery. · Provide clean, safe and functional space. · Provide up-to-date technology and services. · Be up to code on fire, earthquake and flood risks. · Meet OSHA and other standard employee requirements, plus additional levels of health and safety specs. Like any building, schools have to be maintained to preserve the significant investment. Interior and exterior maintenance, plus landscape maintenance (of which the design often has to meet local codes, but not realistic funding allocated towards maintenance ). |
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Funding Washington Schools |
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Familiar Questions and some answers What’s New highlights the latest updates Role of Lawsuits in forming ed policy The Big Picture chart History of Funding K-12 shows how WA evolved Revenue is the other side of the equation Local Bond & Levy Role in the funding equations High School Rankings in applying to colleges How to Advocate offers suggestions & resources Candidates in ’08 on the ballet for election WA State Legislature is making our decisions Projects-in-Progress get involved around the state Media Contacts of local newspapers, TV, etc User Guestbook lets you share and participate Slideshow Presentations explain funding problems Glossary of terms and acronyms BEF & WA Learns are the committees to watch School Districts share their news and budgets List of Web Resources on funding and schools Templates of ready to use articles, letters, etc. Calendar Events to note or participate in Why This Website for Washington State Our Blog comments on current events Submit Your Content to this site |
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Source: 2008 Citizen’s Guide to K-12 Finance What are other types of dedicated funding utilized by school districts? Over three-fourths of a typical school district’s expenditures are for the day-to-day operation of the school district and are funded in the school district’s general fund. For this reason, this document primarily focuses on these expenditures. However, it should be noted that school districts also use other funds including: Capital Project Funds, which are used for some facility construction and remodeling costs; Debt Service Funds, which are used for the repayment of bond debt; Associated Student Body Funds, which are used for student activities; and Transportation Vehicle Funds, which are used for purchasing school buses. How is school construction funded in the state? In each biennial capital budget, the state provides financial assistance to school districts for constructing new and remodeling existing school buildings. The state assistance program is based on two principles: (a) state and local school districts share the responsibility for the provision of school facilities; and (b) there is an equalization of burden among school districts to provide school facilities regardless of the wealth of the districts. To be eligible for state funding, a school district must have a space or remodeling need and must secure voter approval of a bond levy or other funding for the local share of a school project. Once the local share is secured, the state money is allocated to districts based on a formula comprised primarily of a set of space and cost standards/allocations and a matching ratio based on the relative wealth of the district. The state program does not reimburse all costs related to a project. Costs not eligible for reimbursement include site acquisition costs; administrative buildings; stadiums/grandstands; most bus garages; and local sales taxes. Construction-related costs that are eligible include eligible construction costs per square foot; architectural and engineering fees; construction management; value engineering studies; furniture and equipment; energy conservation reports; and inspection and testing. In the 2007-09 biennium (fiscal years 2008 and 2009), the Legislature appropriated approximately $880 million for the state match associated with school construction projects. Source: 2008 Citizen’s Guide to K-12 Finance prepared by staff of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee with staff of the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) Committee. |
