AUGUSTA — Education funding figures that shocked some superintendents earlier this week may change again because of a decision by the Legislature's Education Committee.

The changes would please some and upset others.

The committee voted 10-3 to change the way penalty money – from districts that have not complied with the state's school consolidation law – is distributed to school districts.

Figures released this week by the Department of Education reflected a formula to distribute $5.9 million to districts that conform with the consolidation law. But a majority of the Education Committee wants the money to go to all schools, not just those that meet consolidation requirements.

The committee's Senate chair, Justin Alfond, D-Portland, was upset that funding figures were released to schools before the committee could vote on how it wanted to handle the $5.9 million.

"I felt I was railroaded when these printouts came out," he said.

Department of Education spokesman David Connerty-Marin said the agency is required to release school subsidy figures by early February.

The proposed change in distribution – part of a larger school consolidation bill to be considered by the Legislature in the coming weeks – could cost Portland schools nearly $500,000.

New numbers for all districts were not readily available because they had not yet been given to lawmakers.

Members of the Appropriations Committee said the possible change would create more uncertainty for school districts.

"Time is running," said Rep. Sawin Millett, R-Waterford. "I think we're playing games with local school officials who are looking for signals from Augusta."

Alfond said he and other legislators voted to change the distribution without seeing the spreadsheets detailing how the change would affect certain districts. Although it would take money from some, it would give money to 123 other districts that weren't part of the original distribution, Alfond said.

Education Committee House Chair Patricia Sutherland, D-Chapman, said the committee wants to encourage districts to keep trying to consolidate.

"There are a lot of school units making good-faith efforts," she said. "By July 1, a good number of them will have a new plan."

The debate over the penalty money won't affect the bottom line of the state's $438 million budget shortfall, and the Education Committee voted to accept cuts to school aid that total $38 million this fiscal year and $35 million next year.

But the distribution will affect language in the budget that's being considered by the Appropriations Committee.

Members of that panel asked the Education Committee to release its bill as soon as possible so the issue over how the money is distributed can be settled.

"If the bill is out there, we can deal with it," said Rep. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake. "Right now, this is a horrible position for all of us. Some districts benefit one way and others don't."