Committee OKs budget for NIC Sandpoint Center

The state Senate on Friday honored four Idaho servicemen who fought and lost their lives in Afghanistan during 2013. Families of the honorees attended the special ceremony. The men honored are U.S. Army Specialist Thomas P. Murach, 22 of Meridian, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Octavio Herrera, 26 of Caldwell, U.S. Army Specialist Mitchell K. Daehling, 24 who grew up in Pocatello, and our own U.S. Air Force Captain David Lyon, 28 of Sandpoint.

Jeannie and Bob Lyon attended the memorial in the Senate Chambers and met with senators and the governor afterward. This is the third year the Senate has held a memorial to honor Idaho servicemen killed while serving their country. Since 9/11 through December 2013, 49 Idaho soldiers have been killed while serving our country. Sadly, in January of this year our area lost another soldier — Staff Sgt. Afton Ponce of Priest River.

I was honored, and privileged to carry the memorial for Captain Lyon on the Senate Floor. Sharing the stories and memories of the family and community members was a profoundly humbling experience. I’m struck by the many sentiments shared with me by the family and especially these words from his wife Dana:

“Although we all believe his life ended too soon, let’s celebrate the life he lived and the legacy he leaves behind.”

This ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty puts all things in perspective.

We appear to be right on course for the goal of a March 21 end to this legislative session, with long days and long sessions taking place.

This week, our budget committee approved a budget for community colleges, which I am pleased to support. It includes $302,300 to expand North Idaho College’s Sandpoint Outreach Center.

NIC serves over 600 students in Sandpoint. In addition, the center now provides a full associate’s degree program. This funding coupled with the commitments from NIC as well as Lewis Clark State College make it possible to obtain a 4 year college degree closer to home for the people in our communities.

Also this week, the budget committee set the state’s K-12 budget which is almost 50% of our state’s general fund and perhaps the most important budget we set.

We have approved the best public schools budget since 2008. The budget reverses $35 million in cuts that school districts absorbed during the economic downturn of the last decade and provides our schools with a $66 million raise. Our budget gives more money for Idaho classrooms and teacher training and provides raises for staff.

This is good news for Idaho’s schools and most importantly, Idaho’s school children.

Funding at the state level helps to lessen the burden on our local property tax payers whom the school districts have to ask to pick up the tab when money runs short from Boise.

At this point, there are 758 different pieces of legislation that have been introduced. Bills are moving very quickly through the system now and the next two weeks — likely the final weeks of the session — will be very busy indeed. I truly appreciate the fact that so many of you stay in touch with me during the legislative session. As always, I look forward to hearing from you about your perspectives and opinions on the bills before us. Please continue to stay in touch! The best way to reach me is via an email message at skeough@senate.idaho.gov or through our toll free message center at (800) 626-0471.