FACT BRIEFDoes Nevada's Opportunity Scholarship program have less money this year than last year?
YES
Last year, the Opportunity Scholarship program had an additional $4.7 million in one-time funds through a mining tax compromise. When added to base funding capped at about $6.7 million annually, that brought the program’s total up to about $11.4 million.
Earlier this year, Gov. Joe Lombardo pushed to increase the tax credit funding by $50 million over the next two years and reinstate annual growth language that would expand the program to roughly $500 million by 2032. Democratic lawmakers opposed the price tag, saying public money should go to public schools. The increase was later amended out of Lombardo’s bill, AB400, as part of the deal with Democratic legislative leaders.
As a result, the program funding remains capped at $6.7 million annually.
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Sources
Nevada Legislature AB495
Nevada Department of Education Nevada Department of Education
Nevada Independent Legislature live updates: Major Lombardo education bill advances without Opportunity Scholarships
Nevada Independent Proposed school choice expansion hits partisan logjam
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