07-24-1985 Additions - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 3. Education. Minnesota has always prided itself on having one of the best educational systems in the nation. When Independent - Republicans took control of the Minnesota House in January, they announced that education would once again become the state's top spending priority. And things did change this year! The total state budget increased by only nine percent -- but state aid to local school districts rose by a whopping 22 percent! Funding for higher education increased by 15 percent. Education received the lion's share of increased state spending this year. Spending on K through 12 education during the 1985 -87 biennium will be $2,527 billion. Funding for gifted students will be more than doubled. More than $2 million will be spent on chemical prevention programs. New teachers will be required to pass a basic skills test beginning in•1988, and llth and 12th graders will be given the option of attendng post- secondary institutions next fall. Total spending on higher education in 1985 -87 will be $1.535 billion. The University of Minnesota will receive $708 million (up 18 percent), the state universities will receive $241 million (up 14 percent), the community colleges will receive $122 million (up 16 percent), and vocational - technical institutes will receive $285 million (up 15 percent). In addition, $130 million was appropriated for student aid (an increase of 18 percent). Passing education legislation such as this substantiates the state's as well as my own commitment to quality education in Minnesota. 4. Health and Welfare. We passed the Health and Welfare Bill which will adequately fund all of the state hospitals, correction facilities, and it will help citizens in need. The bill contains one sweeping change: a provision that will remove employable people from general assistance by providing job training. 5. State Department Bill. Two bills providing money for state government and its operations were passed. In Conference Committee the Senate came to the bargaining table with many unsatisfactory proposals in this bill. It included the ratification of salary increases for judges, constitutional officers and legislators as recommended by t Compensation Council and opposed by these. I supported this legislation because a compromise settlement with the Senate helped to avoid another costly special session.