SF 2006 – Student Philanthropy Accounts
SF 2077 – FY16 Categorical Allowable Growth
SF 2078 – Property Tax Relief in School Aid Formula
SF 2079 – FY16 Allowable Growth
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2077 sets the FY16 categorical allowable growth for schools at 6 percent. The FY16 allowable growth rate for each of the State Categorical Supplements (Teacher Compensation, Professional Development and Early Intervention) totals $362.7 million, an increase of $20.9 million compared to the FY15 amount. Funding amounts for each initiative include:
• Teacher Compensation Supplement at $294.8 million, an increase of $17 million.
• Professional Development Supplement at $33.5 million, an increase of $1.9 million.
• Early Intervention Supplement (Class Size) at $34.4 million, an increase of $2 million. [2/5: 26-23 (Houser “excused)]
SF 2078 provides for the state to pick up the incremental increase in property taxes associated with 6 percent state supplemental aid for FY16. This totals $26.3 million in property tax relief. The bill would limit the “second effort” property tax portion to $750 per pupil through FY16. The amount is based on the cost per pupil level of $6,001 for FY13. Without this bill, under a 6 percent growth rate, property taxes would increase $47 per pupil to $797. Schools will get a 6 percent increase per pupil, but local taxpayers in each district won’t be paying the increase. [2/5: 49-0 (Houser “excused)]
SF 2079 sets the FY16 allowable growth rate (basic school aid) for schools at 6 percent. This establishes a total cost per pupil of $6,748. An increase of 6 percent allowable growth in FY16 will cost the state $3.1 billion, an increase of $382 million over FY15. [2/5: 26-23 (Houser “excused”)]
COMMITTEE ACTION:
SF 2006 authorizes the creation of a philanthropy account within a school district’s student activity fund. The philanthropy account would only consist of voluntary donations raised by the students, student organizations or clubs, or school district employees for a specified philanthropic purpose. Funds in the philanthropy account would be used to support philanthropic purposes. The bill defines “philanthropic purpose” to be an educational, charitable, humane, scientific, patriotic, social welfare or advocacy, public health, environmental, conservation, civic or other similar objective defined in Department of Education rules. The bill specifies that the money may be used for purposes relating to the school district or to students enrolled in the school district. This bill was proposed by Senator Steve Sodders based on input from a group of high school students in Marshalltown. [3/5: 9-6 (party-line)]