A significant increase in state funding for local schools has been approved by Nebraska lawmakers.
Overall, the spending plan will increase state aid to K-12 schools by $234 million over the next two years using federal stimulus money.
The $234 million amounts to a 10 percent increase next year, followed by an 8 percent increase the following year.
With schools getting an average of 9 percent increase in funding in a period where inflation and wage increases are in the 1 percent range, lawmakers have said the complex formula that determines how much money schools get will probably need to be changed to slow spending growth.
The original spending plan considered by lawmakers this year would have slowed growth more than the plan that was approved on
Wednesday.
Large school districts had complained the original plan didn't provide them with enough money.
