shifting-education-logoGov. Tim Pawlenty is heading out of state again, this time to a conference in Nashville, Tenn., titled “Shifting Education and the Economy into High Gear.” Those first two words of the title might not be the ones he’d choose, just as he takes heat for shifting education funding — nearly $1.8 billion in state aid for K-12 schools — until next fiscal year. Or maybe until never, Democrats warn.

In the near term, Pawlenty’s education shift will hurt school districts paying interest on money they now must borrow to cover state aid that doesn’t arrive when promised — to the tune of $30 per pupil.

In the longer term, Democratic leaders say that in unallotting education, Pawlenty is only “mimicking” the kinds of budget shifts the state has seen before; the governor doesn’t have the authority to pledge that the money will be made up later.

“You’re looking at a $5-billion deficit and no repayment authority,” says Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, “so what I would say to school districts is you are absolutely kidding yourselves if you think this is going to be paid back.”