School finance-school resource officers.

14LSO-0195.L2

FISCAL NOTE

This bill contains an appropriation of $4,600,000 from the SCHOOL FOUNDATION FUND to the Department of Education.

DETAIL OF APPROPRIATION

Agency #:  205     Agency Name:  Department of Education - School Finance

Unit:  4106 School Resource Officers

EXPENDITURE BY SERIES AND YEAR       FY 2014         FY 2015         FY 2016

0600  Grant & Aid Payments                           $2,300,000       $2,300,000

Total Expenditure Per Year:                          $2,300,000       $2,300,000

Grand Total Expenditure:            $4,600,000

Total Appropriated to Agency:       $4,600,000

Total Appropriated by Fund

SCHOOL FOUNDATION FUND   :          $4,600,000

Description of appropriation:

Funds will be expended by awarding restricted grants to eligible school districts for the purpose of acquiring school resource officers (SRO). Assuming all 48 districts apply and qualify for financial assistance, the proposed calculation detailed in Section 1(d) of the bill results in approximate award amounts of $5,316,278.75 for the first year of funding. Adjusting for the limit of the appropriation, the Department of Education (WDE) projects a maximum award amount of $2.3 million in FY 2015 with an additional $2.3 million in FY 2016. Actual award amounts will be based on district participation and eligibility. All expenditures through this appropriation will be through direct reimbursement (0600 series) to school districts. Although funds will be awarded to districts, there is the expectation that local law enforcement will be consulted and/or hired for the purposes for fulfilling SRO responsibilities.   

Assumptions:

For purposes of the estimates listed above, the WDE has utilized the most recent data available for funding model ADM and district regional cost adjustments. As previously mentioned, the calculations assume full district participation. Actual district participation is indeterminable at this time. The $4.6 million appropriation has been equally allocated for the two fiscal years covered in the proposed bill. Unexpended amounts from the FY 2015 allocation will be carried over into the maximum award amounts for FY 2016 funding. School resource officers hired by districts as part of cooperative service or purchased service agreements (contract employees) are assumed to qualify for funding under the proposed bill.

Prepared by:   Dean Temte, LSO       Phone: 777-7881

(Information provided by Jed Cicarelli, Dept. of Education; 777-5808)