SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 43

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Lynda M. Lovejoy

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, TO CONVENE A TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FORMULA WORK GROUP TO STUDY THE EQUITY OF THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION FORMULA.

     WHEREAS, like the state equalization guarantee distribution, the transportation distribution for public schools is funded by the legislature, but unlike the public school operational funding formula, the transportation distribution formula is not part of state law; and

     WHEREAS, the transportation distribution is used by school districts for the costs of to-and-from school transportation of students in grades kindergarten through twelve; and

     WHEREAS, there has not been a major study of the transportation distribution since 1994, and there have not been major changes to the transportation distribution statutes since 1995; and

     WHEREAS, the Gallup-McKinley county school district is one of the largest school districts, transporting students throughout approximately six thousand square miles; and

     WHEREAS, the Gallup-McKinley county school district ranks number two of all school districts for bus miles traveled, calculated at just over two million seven hundred thirty-eight thousand miles for the 2011-2012 initial allocation; and

     WHEREAS, the Gallup-McKinley county school district will receive one dollar fifty-two cents ($1.52) per mile traveled for its initial allocation, but other districts with far fewer miles traveled receive far more allocations; for example, the Dulce school district, with only twelve thousand one hundred sixty-three bus miles, receives eleven dollars eighty-seven cents ($11.87), the highest of all school districts, by far; the Zuni school district, with only seventy-two thousand seven hundred two miles, receives five dollars seventy-eight cents ($5.78) and is the next highest recipient of the transportation distribution; the Hatch school district, at four dollars thirty cents ($4.30), travels only one hundred forty-nine thousand four hundred eighty-four miles; the Lovington school district, at two hundred forty-seven thousand eight hundred seven miles, and the Bloomfield school district, at three hundred thirty-eight thousand four hundred eighty-five miles, both receive three dollars thirty-seven cents ($3.37); and

     WHEREAS, the Gallup-McKinley county school district is paid the least, by a significant amount, of the school districts in its group of large school districts, seemingly in disregard of the size of each school district and bus miles traveled; and

     WHEREAS, the transportation distribution formula does not account for unpaved and unimproved road miles, which account for much higher maintenance costs due to conditions and terrain;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee, with the assistance of the public education department, be requested to study the current transportation distribution formula, including equity issues; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study consider including other transportation-related expenses that are not included in to-and-from mileage, including:

          A. the miles of unpaved and unimproved roads traveled by school buses in a school district;

          B. special education transportation miles and type;

          C. school district demographics;

          D. contractor fees and gross receipts taxes; and

          E. feeder route fees and miles; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee report to the second session of the fiftieth legislature on its findings and recommendations on making the transportation distribution formula a fairer and more equitable school transportation distribution formula; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the director of the legislative education study committee and the secretary of public education.

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