Yesterday, the Senate Ways and Means committee approved SHB 2893 without amendment.  This measure will not only fund a 2% increase to current levy equalization payments (at a cost of $25 million), it will raise the levy lid 4% (and allow school districts who already have a levy a special opportunity to go back and ask for the additional 4%), and finally, it will allow school districts to consider the "phantom revenue" they would have received from the state for Initiative 728 (class size), Initiative 732 (salary increases), and any reduced K-4 class size funds. 

Previous to this vote, there was an effort yesterday to change the way that the 2% additional levy equalization funds would be distributed.  This effort was led by Senator Tom and would have created equalization chaos by taking money from some districts (who would be very unhappy) and giving it to other districts (who would be happy).  Fortunately, Senator Tom did not try this effort yesterday.  Could he bring it up on the Senate floor when they vote on it in the coming days?  He could but I don't think he will.