Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF4117

Introduced
2/22/24  

Caption

Local optional revenue modified, revenue for unemployment costs and family paid medical leave included in local optional revenue, referendum revenue simplified, equalization aid increased, and money appropriated.

Impact

HF 4117 seeks to streamline funding by simplifying the referendum revenue process and increasing equalization aid for school districts. These changes could provide a more equitable distribution of resources, especially for those districts that may struggle financially due to decreasing enrollment or lower property tax revenues. On the surface, the bill appears to support educational equity by allowing districts with fewer local resources to receive higher aid, thus narrowing the disparity found in funding across various districts.

Summary

House File 4117 proposes significant modifications to education finance in Minnesota, specifically focusing on local optional revenue adjustments and enhancing equalization aid. The bill introduces provisions for school districts that include revenue for unemployment costs and family paid medical leave in the calculation of local optional revenue. This integration aims to alleviate financial pressures on school districts by ensuring they can account for essential personnel costs related to unemployment and medical leave when determining their budgets and financial planning for the upcoming fiscal years.

Contention

However, the bill is not without its points of contention. Critics may argue that the inclusion of unemployment costs and family medical leave could lead to increased expenditures for the state, depending on how these provisions are applied and funded. Furthermore, the amendments to the referendum process might face opposition from those advocating for localized decision-making in school funding. The balance between ensuring adequate funding and managing state expenditures will be pivotal as discussions around HF 4117 progress.

Companion Bills

MN SF4184

Similar To Local optional revenue modifications, unemployment costs and family paid medical leave in local optional revenue inclusion, referendum revenue simplification, equalization aid increase, and appropriating money

Previously Filed As

MN SF4184

Local optional revenue modifications, unemployment costs and family paid medical leave in local optional revenue inclusion, referendum revenue simplification, equalization aid increase, and appropriating money

MN HF409

Local optional revenue increased, aid amount increased, and money appropriated.

MN HF2100

Referendum allowances reduced, local optional revenue authority increased, and money appropriated.

MN HF879

Local optional revenue increased, future increases in local optional revenue linked to the growth in general education basic formula allowance, and money appropriated.

MN HF1989

Local optional revenue for school districts increased, and money appropriated.

MN HF2510

School district local optional revenue increased, and local optional revenue program indexed to the formula allowance.

MN HF2388

Local optional aid and levy replaced with basic supplemental revenue, basic supplemental aid amount increased, and money appropriated.

MN SF2340

Referendum allowances reduction provision, local optional revenue authority increase provision, and appropriation

MN SF1254

School district local optional revenue increase

MN SF4144

School district local option revenue increase and indexing optional revenue program to the formula allowance provisions

Similar Bills

MN SF4184

Local optional revenue modifications, unemployment costs and family paid medical leave in local optional revenue inclusion, referendum revenue simplification, equalization aid increase, and appropriating money

MN HF2388

Local optional aid and levy replaced with basic supplemental revenue, basic supplemental aid amount increased, and money appropriated.

MN SF1612

School district funding increase

MN HF1028

Various education finance funding allocations increased involving, school district funding, general education basic formula allowance, special education cross subsidy aid, school unemployment aid account funding, English learner cross subsidy aid, and safe schools revenue; extended time revenue linked to general education basic formula allowance; calculations for school's compensatory revenue eligibility modified; school board powers modified; and money appropriated.

MN SF2340

Referendum allowances reduction provision, local optional revenue authority increase provision, and appropriation

MN HF2100

Referendum allowances reduced, local optional revenue authority increased, and money appropriated.

MN HF843

Election to revoke or reduce a school district's local optional revenue authorized.

MN HF1694

Local optional aid and levy replaced with basic supplemental aid, and money appropriated.