Senator urges faster consideration of emergency school finance legislation

A state senator whose district covers the financially troubled Hancock County school system objected to the Senate’s deliberately paced process in considering legislation for emergency school funding.

“This is outrageous,” said Senator Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio, in floor remarks.

The House of Delegates on Monday moved fast to suspend rules and pass bills that would establish an emergency fund for distressed county school boards while appropriating $8 million, all in response to a fiscal crisis in Hancock County.

The Senate, in contrast, assigned the two bills to the finance and education committees to more thoroughly examine the grounding of the emergency fund.

“I urge immediate consideration and passage of these bills. I won’t stay silent and I will not stop fighting for the teachers, staff and children of Hancock County,” said Chapman, whose seat is up in this year’s election cycle.

Hancock County has been described as being roughly 140 employees over what the state school funding formula could support. State officials have said the county used federal covid relief dollars for ongoing expenses and then did not wean off adequately when that funding dried up.

Altogether, state officials have said Hancock County’s troubles include a $5 million cash shortfall, a $2 million high school overspend and a $1 million turf project with dollars from the county board’s general fund.

The emergency fund could be used for any county defined as financially distressed, but officials said Hancock is the only one known to be eligible right now.

House bills 4574 would establish a temporary shortfall supplement fund, making loans available to counties with reserve balances below 5% to ensure they can meet payroll and essential costs.

As efforts to maintain accountability, the legislation mandates strict financial reporting, requires the implementation of electronic tracking systems, and sets conditions for repaying the state.

A second bill, House Bill 4575, designates an initial $8 million from the state’s surplus to establish the fund.

Senate Finance Chairman Jason Barrett said that since the state Department of Education took over the Hancock County school system last Friday, the urgency to quickly provide financial support from the legislature has dissipated.

The takeover has helped to expedite funds through the state aid formula, Barrett said, prior to any legislative move.

“I personally don’t feel the same great sense of urgency that was around this building last week,” Barrett, R-Berkeley, said on MetroNews Talkline.

“I think it is important that the teachers, the school service personnel, those in Hancock County know that the payroll is going to be met; they are going to be paid.”

Barrett said the committees will be able to better examine the emergency funding bills. “We’ll vet that and see if that’s the right approach to take,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, spoke during Wednesday’s floor session to advocate for more detailed examination of the school finance emergency fund.

Woelfel has been advocating for sharper and clearer consequences for local school board members if there are financial crises that would require use of the fund.

“The Senate is a deliberative body, and I commend you for being deliberative on this particular bill,” Woelfel said.