Vermont S 283: An act relating to school districts pursuing school construction projects during the moratorium on State aid

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED S.283
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VT LEG #385921 v.2
S.283 1
Introduced by Senators Clarkson, Gulick, Major and White 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Education; State aid for capital construction costs; school 5
construction; State funding of public education; education spending; 6
taxation and finance; education property tax; excess spending 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to exclude 8
capital construction costs from the definition of “education spending” for 9
purposes of calculating excess spending. This bill also proposes to deem as 10
having good cause to commence construction before final approval under the 11
State Aid for School Construction Program any school district that commences 12
construction before the Program commences on July 1, 2026. 13
An act relating to school districts pursuing school construction projects 14
during the moratorium on State aid 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 4001 is amended to read: 17
§ 4001. DEFINITIONS 18
As used in this chapter: 19
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VT LEG #385921 v.2
(6) “Education spending” means the amount of the school district 1
budget, any assessment for a joint contract school, career technical center 2
payments made on behalf of the district under subsection 1561(b) of this title, 3
and any amount added to pay a deficit pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1523(b) that is 4
paid for by the school district, but excluding any portion of the school budget 5
paid for from any other sources such as endowments, parental fundraising, 6
federal funds, nongovernmental grants, or other State funds such as special 7
education funds paid under chapter 101 of this title. 8
(A) [Repealed.] 9
(B) For all bonds approved by voters prior to July 1, 2024, voter-10
approved Voter-approved bond payments toward principal and interest shall 11
not be included in “education spending” for purposes of calculating excess 12
spending pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 5401(12). 13
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Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 3445(a)(5) is amended to read: 15
(5) Final approval for construction aid. 16
(A) Unless approved by the Secretary for good cause in advance of 17
commencement of construction, a school district shall not begin construction 18
before the Secretary approves a final application, provided that any school 19
district that commences construction before July 1, 2026, shall be deemed to 20

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VT LEG #385921 v.2
have good cause. A school district may submit a written final application to 1
the Secretary at any time following approval of a preliminary application. 2
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Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATES 4
(a) Sec. 1 (excess spending exclusion) and this section shall take effect on 5
passage. 6
(b) Sec. 2 (final approval for construction aid) shall take effect on July 1, 7
2026. 8