HOUSE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 87
The Honorable Ben Lujan and
Members of the House of Representatives
Honorable Speaker and Members of the House:
I have this day VETOED and am returning HOUSE BILL
23, as amended,
enacted by the Forty-Fifth
Legislature, First Session, 2001.
This bill amends the calculation for the student enrollment growth units to increase and significantly impact the Student Equalization Guarantee funding formula by increasing the individual student unit value.
This proposed unit valuation was to address the
unplanned student population increase and accompanied resource needs imposed on
growing school districts. At the same
time, the proposal would have held-harmless districts that lost students.
In the case of students gained and lost, the steady
decline in enrollment over the last four years from 330,522 to 320,277, a
10,245 student loss, has conversely increased operational dollars in all
districts because general funds have increased every year. Consequently, the formula has historically
increased.
The existing funding of the State Department of
Education should be adequate to help the few school districts that need
contingent resources. The department should
support them through this growth period.
Sincerely,
Gary E. Johnson
Governor
RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE
GOVERNOR:
Time: _____________________ By:_____________________________
Secretary
of State
Date ______________________
Time:______________________
Date_______________________ By:_____________________________
Chief Clerk of
the House
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