(KCPW News) A $25 million shortfall in the state’s education budget was resolved yesterday in a special session called by the governor. Democratic Senator Pat Jones says appropriations were made to accommodate for the error, but consequences of the mistake may still be seen down the road.
“It will impact possibly the amount of monies that we will have available in January when we meet in our general session, so that is a little disappointing. All we can hope for is that our economy picks up,” she says.
The mistake occurred in the State Office of Education on a spreadsheet formula used to calculate Utah’s minimum school program funding. Since then, State Superintendent Larry Shumway says there have been personnel changes within his office.
“This is an error of significant magnitude. And it’s an error that’s embarrassing to us. But I especially appreciate that the legislature would recognize the needs of school children and appropriate the funds to provide the program that we all intended at the end of the session in March,” says Shumway.
Two employees resigned following the miscalculation.
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