The Alaska State Senate approved a three-year increase in per-student school funding on Friday.
The proposal would increase the money given to each school district based on how many students they have -- known as the Base Student Allocation -- beginning in the 2012-13 school year, and continuing for two more years.
Eighteen senators voted for the bill, and Sens. John Coghill (R-North Pole) and Fred Dyson (R-Eagle River) voted against it.
Before voting for the bill, Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage) noted that her vote would be a difficult one to cast, because she said she wanted to avoid defecit spending in future years.
"I hear from my consitutents endlessly: 'Cut the budget, Cut the budget,'" Giessel said.
Sen. Linda Menard (R-Wasilla) noted before voting for the increase, "if there is any item that adequate state spending should go toward, it's the future and benefit of the next generation."
The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
Gov. Sean Parnell has said he opposes automatic Base Student Allocation increases, instead favoring one-time increases based on specific school district needs.
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