Lawmakers vote to limit school aid

LINCOLN - Nebraska lawmakers took a step toward reducing the growth in state aid to schools today as part of their struggle to balance the state budget.

Senators gave 37-11 first-round approval to a bill that aims to keep state aid flat for the 2010-11 school year.

Legislative Bill 5 would save the state an estimated $32 million, according to calculations by the state Department of Education.

Lawmakers have been meeting in special session to close a $334 million gap in the state's $6.94 billion, two-year state budget.

State Sen. Greg Adams of York, the Education Committee chairman, said the bill was intended to spread the pain among all school district and could be done without raising property taxes.

"We have given you the fairest and, I believe, if that word can be used, the simplest way to do it," he said.

Others questioned whether the state needs to, or should, take money from K-12 education. They noted that Nebraska continues to have money in its cash reserve. They also said there are other places in the budget to find savings.

"Let's protect the highest obligation that we have and that is education," said Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln.