Monday, January 20, 2014

Also today, the "alternative budget"

(Left to Right): Mike Ferguson, Cindy Wilson, Jerry Evans, Mike Lanza.
Boise high school teacher and member of the Gov.'s Task
Force to Improve Education Cindy Wilson speaks during a press conference
today at 10:30 a.m. about the newly-released "Responsible Alternative
to the Executive Budget" created by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy.
Today also brought with it a press conference announcing the "Responsible Alternative to the Executive Budget" formulated by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy.

Michael Ferguson, director of the policy center, said the budget plan would significantly increase funding for education, educators and public schools - by nearly $70 billion, in fact.

"While (the alternative budget) reflects a vastly different set of priorities than embodied in (Otter's) Executive Budget, it relies on the Executive Budget for basic parameters and framework used in developing a state budget," Ferguson said. "It is intended to show that Idaho does have the resources in fiscal year 2015 to provide meaningful increases to Idaho's public schools."

The press conference included three other speakers.
Jerry Evans: Was superintendent of public instruction for 16 years.
Marilyn Howard: Was superintendent of public instruction for 7 years.
Cindy Wilson: Teacher at Capital High School in Boise and member of the Gov.'s education task force.
Mike Lanza: Organizer of state-wide anti-"Students Come First" legislation and also member of the Gov.'s task force.

The alternative budget would also include an 4% change in employee compensation, $35 million to the Department of Health and Welfare budget, as well as a call for a reinvestment of $30 million into the state of Idaho rather than relinquish the dollars for tax reductions.

Find the complete report and alternative budget plan here.

Twitter: @crchloerambo | Instagram: @crchloerambo | The Argonaut



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