school funding

Meanwhile, the Wyoming Education Association [WEA] last week announced that it is filing a lawsuit against the state over what it says is the underfunding of schools.

Balow echoed comments made by Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon earlier this year in telling Woods that the current school funding system is ''not sustainable."

At another point, Gordon said ''It is not clear that more money equals better education. Or that less does either.''

Unlike a personal income tax bill proposed in the legislature in 2020, the latest proposal would apply to all taxpayers, not only those making over $200,000 per year.

The 2021 Session is a General Session, which means that bills on any topic can be introduced without needing a 2/3 majority.

The tax would raise an estimated $58 million per year for the School Foundation Program.

Wyoming faces major education funding shortfalls in the coming years, and a bill that is slated for consideration by the 2021 Legislature when it reconvenes in March would cut school funding by $100 million.

Jillian Balow says she is also concerned about "further, similar orders" that may be coming.

Among other things, Balow said Wyoming education continues to face a "structural deficit" in terms of school funding.

Hein says some people use the Wyoming Constitution as an argument to "shovel more and more money into this pit.''