A bill meant to wean schools off of using capitol outlay funds for specific expenses is dead.
Last session, lawmakers extended the length of time schools can utilize capital outlay funds for property insurance, utilities, and fuel. House Bill 1001 gradually decreases the percentage of capital outlay funds schools can use through its end in 2018. Supporters of HB 1001 say it is an early alert for school districts to prepare for the funding change.
Wade Pogany is the president of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. Pogany says schools don’t need legislation to get the message.
"We’re still using it, and we understand this deadline in 2018. But we don’t use capital outlay because we want to; we use capital outlay because we have to," Pogany says. "We use it because we have to. So keep the course you gave us last year, let schools have stability in their budgets and maintain this provision."
Pogany says keeping the law as-is helps districts plan long-term. Nine lawmakers agree with him. Five disagree. A majority vote sends House Bill 1001 to the 41st legislative day. That effectively kills the bill.