Utah Senate gives preliminary approval to bill equalizing school funding

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate gave preliminary approval Thursday to legislation intended to help equalize school funding across the state.SB145, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, R-South Jordan, advanced to a third reading in the Senate by a vote of 20-6.The legislation would set aside $36 million from the state's education fund to increase the minimum funding level for school districts statewide, adding funding each year.It would provide $1.5 million for Necessarily Existent Small Sc