LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — As the Clark County School District (CCSD) grapples with a potential budget deficit, community members are raising tough questions about how this is possible given the historic funding the state received last year.
Principals are considering adjustments to staffing and programs, but many are questioning why a deficit exists when the state has additional revenue streams, including marijuana taxes.
Amanda Morgan, executive director of Educate Nevada Now, explained the situation. “It’s a great question to ask because when marijuana money initially started coming in, folks were expecting to see big increases at their local school,” Morgan said.
Recreational cannabis was legalized in Nevada in 2017 with the promise that tax revenue would benefit schools. However, under the old funding formula, the Nevada Plan, the state reduced its own contributions to the education budget as marijuana revenue increased. “They got an additional $50 or $60 million from marijuana, that’s $50 or $60 million less that we have to contribute. So basically, it ended up being a zero-sum game,” Morgan said.
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In 2019, the state legislature passed a new “Pupil-Centered Funding Plan,” which ensures that new revenue sources like marijuana taxes do not reduce state contributions. This plan allocates funds based on the number of students, covering expenses from special programs to hiring teachers.
According to the Nevada Department of Taxation, cannabis excise tax revenue was $120 million in fiscal year 2024 and $133 million in fiscal year 2023. Despite this, Morgan noted that the funds are insufficient to make a significant impact. “The unfortunate reality is we are shorting our public education system by the billions. So when you start talking about tens of millions, or even $100 million, we’re still quite a bit away from adequately funding our students,” she said.
The Nevada Commission on School Funding reports that the average weighted amount of money provided per student in the state is $12,863, below the national average of $15,503. Morgan acknowledged that last year’s historic education funding was helpful. “I think legislators did a great job last session by, you know, that $1 billion per year over two years, so that $2 billion was really significant, and it was, you know, kind of put us on a path to adequate funding. But this is kind of a long-haul project,” she said.
As the Clark County School District (CCSD) grapples with a potential budget deficit, community members are raising tough questions about how this is possible gi Read More