Idaho schools chief unveils budget proposal

Idaho’s top schools chief says she wants a 6.6 percent increase in education spending for 2017, requesting more money for teacher salaries and literacy improvement.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra released her plan Thursday. In it, Idaho’s public school funding would bump up $104.7 million more than what lawmakers allocated this year.

The Idaho Legislature has approved 7.4 percent budget increases for school funding over the last two years. Ybarra’s latest plan is the lowest budget proposal since 2014, when former state Superintendent Tom Luna requested a 5.1 percent budget bump.

Ybarra’s spokesman Jeff Church says that the superintendent worked with a variety of lawmakers and educators to agree on a sum that properly addresses Idaho’s education needs while being fiscally responsible.

The proposal now goes before Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, legislative leadership and other stakeholders for review.