SWEETWATER COUNTY — Appropriation bill cuts may lead to further reduced funding for Sweetwater County schools.

Rep. Jerry Paxton, R-Sweetwater County, has worked with other legislators to try to reduce funding cuts by half with an amendment to the current Appropriations bill, however their amendment was defeated earlier this week. He and others are working on another amendment to soften the blow awaiting Sweetwater County schools.

.

School districts with a high population involved in mineral extraction are very vulnerable to losing students because of the current economic situation in the oil, gas and coal industries. I will continue to work with other legislators to restore at least some of the proposed cuts.

-Jerry Paxton, Rep. Sweetwater County

.

The current school funding model awards funds based on school population. Essentially, more students mean more money while fewer students equal less money. Sweetwater County School District No. 2 lost 50 students in January, which will equate to reduced funding under the current funding formula. These cuts, along with the cuts from the Joint Appropriations Committee, will have a significant impact on the district.