Wyoming Lawmakers Reach Last-Minute School Funding Agreement

Wyoming lawmakers have approved an education finance bill containing more than $34 million in spending cuts but no taxes.

Fixing an education funding shortfall set top $380 million a year was one of Gov. Matt Mead's top hopes for the eight-week session.

The House voted 45-13 and the Senate 25-4 to approve the bill late Friday. The bill now heads to Mead's desk for his signature.

The cuts in the bill accompany a plan to study and revamp education funding amid weak state revenue from coal, oil and natural gas extraction. Lawmakers considered but rejected a half-cent sales tax increase to address the shortfall.

House Speaker Steve Harshman says the bill doesn't solve Wyoming's education funding crisis but is a step in that direction.