Relating to public school funding by establishing the state percent of growth and the categorical state percent of growth for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, modifying provisions relating to the property tax replacement payments and transportation equity payments, modifying provisions relating to the regular program state cost per pupil and funding for shared operational functions, establishing a school district funding supplement, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions

The state percent of growth is used to calculate the amount of supplemental state aid for a budget year as part of the state school foundation program.25 percent for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025. The categorical state percent of growth is generally used to calculate the amount of supplemental state aid for each of the categorical funding supplements.16B provides for school district property tax replacement payments. For each budget year beginning on or after July 1, 2024, the amount of each school district’s property tax replacement payment is the product of the school district’s weighted enrollment for the budget year multiplied by the per pupil property tax replacement amount for the budget year. The per pupil property tax replacement amount for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2024, is equal to the sum of $153 plus the difference between the following: (1) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2024, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage; and (2) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2021, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage. The bill modifies the property tax replacement payment calculation for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025. For budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, the amount of each school district’s property tax replacement payment is the product of the school district’s weighted enrollment for the budget year multiplied by the per pupil property tax replacement amount for the budget year. The per pupil property tax replacement amount for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025, is equal to the sum of $153 plus the difference between the following: (1) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage; and (2) the regular program state cost per pupil for the budget year beginning July 1, 2021, multiplied by 100 percent less the regular program foundation base per pupil percentage.4 percent. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION II —— STATE COST PER PUPIL. Under the bill, for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025, the regular program state cost per pupil is the regular program state cost per pupil for the base year plus the regular program supplemental state aid for the budget year, plus $10. Then with the budget year beginning July 1, 2026, and succeeding budget years, the regular program state cost per pupil will again be calculated as the regular program state cost per pupil for the base year plus the regular program supplemental state aid for the budget year. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION III —— SUPPLEMENTARY WEIGHTING FOR SHARED OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS. Current law provides that a school district that shares with a political subdivision one or more operational functions in certain specified areas for at least percent of the school year shall be assigned a supplementary weighting for each shared operational function. Under current law, the maximum amount of additional weighting for which a school district is eligible in a budget year is additional pupils. The bill increases the maximum amount of additional weighting for which a school district is eligible in a budget year from additional pupils to additional pupils, for budget years beginning on or after July 1, 2025. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION IV —— TRANSPORTATION EQUITY PAYMENTS.16C appropriates from the general fund of the state to the transportation equity fund the sum of the amount appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus the product of the amount appropriated for the immediately preceding fiscal year multiplied by the categorical percent of growth for the corresponding school budget year. The bill modifies the appropriation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, such that the total appropriated is equal to the amount necessary to make all transportation equity aid payments. The division takes effect upon enactment. DIVISION V —— SCHOOL FUNDING SUPPLEMENT. The bill provides a school district funding supplement for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and appropriates from the general fund of the state to the department of education for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, $22,591,274 to make all school district funding supplement payments. Each school district’s funding supplement amount shall be equal to the portion of the $22,591,274 appropriation that is proportionate to the school district’s budget enrollment as a percentage of the statewide total budget enrollment for the budget year beginning July 1, 2025. Such funds received by a school district under the bill may be used for any school general fund purpose. School district funding supplement payments received by a school district shall be miscellaneous income for purposes of Code chapter 257 and shall not be included in district cost. The division takes effect upon enactment.