AUGUSTA — Before the most recent legislative session expired last week, lawmakers neglected to pass a bill that would have appropriated more than $1 billion in funds for public schools.

The Maine School Management Association, which represents superintendents, sent out a notice Tuesday urging members to contact lawmakers and ask them to find a way to vote out that bill.

At stake is more than $1 billion in general purpose aid for public schools for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That money represents about half of funding for school districts across the state, most of whom are in the process of drafting next year’s budget.

“Explain to your legislators school budgets are being passed now based on the funding promised in the biennial budget and uncertainty will be disruptive,” Maine School Management said in its notice. “It also would put an inordinate burden on local property taxpayers if state funding were altered now.”

“While state funding was set last year in the biennial budget, the cost of education, the required local mill rate and the state and local share are approved every year in some type of budget bill.”

This year’s bill, LD 1869, was tabled in the Senate last week – along with a host of others – because lawmakers were divided about an amendment. It never went to a vote before lawmakers adjourned amid a partisan fight in the House.

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