Rainy-day maneuver on stopgap funding bill considered by Senate

Senate budget writers are discussing the possibility of trying to "over fund" public schools by Aug. 31 with $3 billion of rainy-day money, so that schools can cover the cost of rapid growth in student enrollment in the next two-year cycle.

The idea was raised Monday morning by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, (right) during discussion of a stopgap or "supplemental" funding bill that would ratify recent spending cuts by state agencies and plug holes in the current budget, which ends Aug. 31. But it was not immediately clear what political advantage would be gained, given resistance by Gov. Rick Perry and the House's GOP supermajority to using more than about one-third of the state's $9.4 billion rainy day fund.

Neither the House-passed budget for 2012-2013, nor the Finance Committee's proposed two-year budget, would fund enrollment growth in public schools. But the Senate, to fund its more costly spending blueprint, would tap the state's rainy day fund for $3 billion -- assuming no upward revision by Comptroller Susan Combs of her two-year revenue estimate. That $3 billion would be in addition to the House's approved draw-down of $3.1 billion of rainy-day money to pay current bills. The Senate's supplemental spending bill, approved by the Finance Committee 11-0 on Monday, would use $3.25 billion of rainy-day dollars. The main difference appeared to be the Senate's plan to spend nearly $40 million on recent wildfires and additional sums on inmate health care, lawsuit settlements and a building repair in Waco.

"Would it be more prudent to take that $3 billion [of rainy-day money] that we have in the Senate [two-year budget] bill and put it in this bill?" West said, referring to the supplemental spending measure.

Responded Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, "We've discussed this at length. The answer is maybe. ... That is a very valid issue."

After the meeting, Ogden was asked if West's proposed move would allow the Senate to take rainy-day money out of its two-year budget and thus make it easier to pass that budget.

He replied, "It could."

Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/05/senate-finance-passes-stopgap.html

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