Montana Legislators told they should raise school funding by $260 million a year

The state should increase its share of public-school funding by $260 million a year, phased in over time, if it wants to adequately finance a quality education for Montana children, an education official told lawmakers Thursday.

Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Boards Association, said while the proposal may sound “aggressive,” it would merely put state support for schools back at 1991 levels, adjusted for inflation.

He also said while schools have seen a big influx of new state funds in the past three years, the state is spending a much lower share of its money now on schools than it did two decades ago.

“I’m not sure the state can impact (adequacy of education) if it’s a minority partner in funding schools,” Melton said, noting that local property taxes and federal funds combine to pay nearly 58 percent of Montana school budgets.

By MIKE DENNISON Missoulian State Bureau

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/18/news/mtregional/news07.txt