(KNOX) – One of the two measures that North Dakotans will vote on this year would provide what is being described as free school breakfast and lunch meals for public and charter students in the state. School districts would be reimbursed by the state for meal costs and the cost would be adjusted each year for inflation. Those who support measure two say every child would be guaranteed a school meal, but Republican District 18 State Senator Scott Meyer of GF says all North Dakota students already get school meals whether or not it can be paid for. He tells KNOX’s The Ryan Cunningham Show.
At least 47,000 North Dakota K-12 students already receive meals because of a free or reduced lunch program, and districts like Grand Forks Public Schools have a child nutrition lunch debt because students who have a negative fund balance in their account still get to eat at school. Meyer also says that if measure two fails, he would push for a bill that would have the state pay for the lunch debt.
If measure two passes, it would cost up to an estimated $134.3 million every two years starting in the 2027 to 2029 budget cycle.
Senator Meyer’s full comments on The Ryan Cunningham Show can be heard below:
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