05/29/2026
Yesterday we put the finishing touches on one of the best operating budgets I have had the privilege to help write in my eight years on the Joint Finance Committee. A comprehensive accounting of the highlights is forthcoming, but for now I just want to stress how grateful I am to the committee chairs, my colleagues, the CG's office and the Office of Management and Budget for the investments in K through 12 education that will allow us to implement the new hybrid funding formula in the 27-28 school year.
We were able to restore a $26 million cut that dates back to 2018 and has harmed our ability to meet the needs of our students, and we set aside $100 million additional dollars for FY28 to truly meet the needs of every student in the state, including those with IEPs or from low income or multilingual families-- without having to take a penny away from districts with fewer high needs students!
I also want to thank the members of the Public Education Funding Commission for building and supporting a funding formula that merits these deeper investments in our schools because we know the money will go where it's most needed and will be used in the most effective ways possible as decided by local leaders who know their students best.

