The $330 million in total earnings for the Idaho State Endowment Fund in fiscal year 2014 wasn’t great news for our kids, corrections and mental health treatment. Instead the money was placed in the 1.8 billion stock and investment fund for the money managers to manage. The Fund is now up from an $800 million balance 10 years ago.

But, this windfall isn’t trickling down to benefit Idaho kids, corrections and mental health beneficiaries. The Endowment paid last September …

This is my final Legislative Report for the 2014 Session, which Sue Chew, Elliot Werk and I have written together:

Report for 2014 Legislative Session

The K-12 General Fund Appropriation unfortunately again fails our students and schools. We are more than $175 million short of what we spent in 2008-2009 when new costs for expanded enrollment, health insurance, core curriculum training and inflation are included. The result is overcrowded classrooms, fewer teachers, and higher property taxes.

The K-12 appropriation is up 5.1 per cent but still $43 million less than 2008-2009. But it also fails to account for for 15,000 more students; steep health insurance premium …