Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo is proposing a 12% increase in per-student funding over the next two-year budget cycle, even as school districts across the state — Clark County most prominently — are still digging out of enrollment-driven budget shortfalls that forced emergency state intervention just weeks ago.
Lombardo outlined the plan at an economic roundtable at the Henderson Chamber, saying his two-year budget proposal would raise per-student funding by $3,600 to $10,600 since he took office, according to KSNV. The governor said the goal is to push Nevada's per-pupil spending closer to the national average, which currently sits roughly $4,000 above the state's own figure, per the same report. A separate comparison reported by The Nevada Independent put the national average at $19,025, $3,663 above Nevada's per-pupil spending.
The proposed increase would build on a budget Lombardo signed during his first term in 2023 that delivered a $2 billion, 26% jump in K-12 funding, raising the state's base per-pupil amount from $7,074 to more than $9,400, according to historical tracking by The Nevada Independent. Final numbers from the Nevada Economic Forum are expected in November, KSNV reports, which will shape how much of Lombardo's proposal lawmakers can actually fund.
Where the Money Would Come From
Lombardo said current state funds, along with increased revenue from business activity and gaming, could support the proposed increase, per KSNV. He also voiced support for directing revenue from new data centers toward schools, though the outlet reported those centers would not be able to abate the Local School Support Tax, a sales tax collected by local jurisdictions.
The financial outlook is more constrained: the Economic Forum predicted $191 million less for the forthcoming budget, according to The Nevada Independent. Nevada's education dollars flow through the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan established in 2019, under which state money follows each student via a base amount plus weighted funds for English learners, at-risk students, and gifted students, the outlet notes.
Enrollment Drops Triggered a Mid-Year Crisis
The funding debate comes on the heels of a real budget emergency. Clark County School District reported a $52 million shortfall this fall, according to KSNV, and schools across the district announced staff and program cuts before having to readjust budgets once emergency money arrived. Because school funding follows the student under Nevada's formula, fewer enrolled students mean less money for a school — and that is exactly what happened this year.
All but three of Nevada's 18 school districts saw declining enrollment for the 2025–2026 school year, while Clark County's enrollment fell by more than 10,400 students, per Nevada Independent reporting. Lombardo signed an emergency regulation in late September allowing districts to receive state funding based on legislatively approved enrollment projections rather than lower actual quarterly counts, a fix that prevented mid-year teacher layoffs, according to Nevada Public Radio. KSNV reports some of the shortfalls were directly tied to that lower enrollment.
Parents and Lawmakers Want Lasting Fixes
Anna Marie Binder, a parent and education advocate, told KSNV she wants her children to benefit from stable funding that adequately supports public education — not one-time patches. Lawmakers from both parties say they are seeking more sustainable funding solutions ahead of the next legislative session in Carson City.
Nevada State Assembly Minority Floor Leader Gregory Hafen, a Republican, said education is the top priority and the first budget passed each legislative session, per KSNV. Nevada Senate President Pro Tempore Marilyn Dondero Loop, a Democrat, said teachers deserve classrooms with appropriate class sizes and supplies, the outlet reported. The broader debate includes whether revenue from new data centers should fund schools or whether sales taxes need modernizing instead.
Nevada public schools received $18,600 in total funding per student, $2,400 below the U.S. average, according to USAFacts.
Political Lines Drawn Ahead of Election
In the 2026 gubernatorial race, the Clark County Education Association endorsed Lombardo's reelection last year, while the statewide Nevada State Education Association backed Democratic candidate Aaron Ford, according to The Nevada Independent. KSNV said it reached out to nonpartisan governor candidate Danielle Ford and Democratic candidate Aaron Ford for comment on Lombardo's proposal.
Nevada has opted into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, with scholarships that may cover private tuition and tutoring starting in 2027, according to the Nevada Governor's Office. Separately, under Senate Bill 90, the Nevada Department of Education allocated $7.5 million for the 2026–2027 school year to fund the DonorsChoose grant program, giving public school educators grants of up to $500 for classroom supplies, per the Nevada Department of Education.
