Lawmakers approve additional education funding

CARSON CITY — Legislators today rejected several cuts Gov. Jim Gibbons had proposed for K-12 education funding, bringing to about $271 million the amount added back into the education budget for the next biennium.

Saying many painful cuts have already been made and some programs are too essential to reduce, lawmakers in a joint subcommittee voted to let teachers continue to get raises when they receive advanced degrees; to preserve a retirement bonus given to teachers in at-risk schools; and to partially maintain a regional professional development program for educators and an adult education program.

The $271 million also includes legislators’ decision Monday to cut teacher salaries by 4 percent rather than the 6 percent Gibbons recommended, and not to cut their health insurance benefits.

Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said the state’s level of education funding will trigger the addition of $162 million in federal stimulus funds for K-12, bringing to $434 million the total amount above Gibbons’ January recommendation.

“While every dollar we trim hurts, I’m pleased that through this laborious, three-month process, Democrats and Republicans were able to focus on the importance of education, focus on working together,” Buckley said.

Left undecided was how to move forward on state funding for remedial education. The governor recommended suspending programs totaling about $61 million. Lawmakers attested to the programs’ efficacy in allowing schools to innovate and preventing students from falling behind and dropping out.

Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, proposed postponing a decision on how much to cut from the program until Friday, when the higher education budget is scheduled to be wrapped up.

Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.