STATEHOUSE (March 10, 2009) - A bill authored by State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) designed to give school corporations more financial flexibility and local control is on its way to the governor’s office.

Members of the House of Representatives voted 94-1 today in final support of Alting’s Senate Bill 309.

If the measure is signed into law by Gov. Mitch Daniels, public school corporations and charter schools will have the option of continuing to operate on a January to December calendar year basis or change to the state’s fiscal calendar year, running from July 1 through June 30.

Alting said his bill would positively impact almost every Hoosier school district. Currently, just two of the 293 public K-12 schools operate on the state’s fiscal year calendar.

“In the current fiscal environment, every dollar counts,” Alting said. “This bill gives local school administrators the freedom to choose what will make the most fiscal sense for their districts.”

Without this measure, Alting said schools would have been required by law to begin operating in unison with the state’s fiscal year. Alting said that would have led to more training and equipment expenses during already difficult financial times.

“Local superintendents voiced their support for the option to switch if they chose or continue operating on the regular calendar year,” Alting said. “This bill provides more control at the local level, while giving school corporations another tool for avoiding unnecessary, added and unforeseen costs to already tight budgets.”

Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.