[Vision2020] Fwd: Abolish Property Taxes Now!

[Sue Hovey]

I guess the operative word is "compelling."  Most states, Idaho included, 
established the system of public schools as a state effort, but dependent on 
local financial and governance effort.  Idaho's constitution makes a more 
compelling argument for state funding, than is found in many other states, 
because of the requirement that the State establish and maintain a public 
school system.  Interestingly, because of the almost universal requirement 
for local financial effort as part of the basic education funding, 
distribution measures indicate there is greater inequality between districts 
in the same state than there actually is between states.

Is there a compelling reason for this type of funding pattern?  Depends on 
who's talking.   Districts with a broader and more wealthy tax base are 
reluctant to provide much equalization funding for poorer districts.  Some 
states have enacted "Robin Hood" laws (Texas is one with which I am 
familiar) to equalize the disparity, but as time goes by those laws are 
eroded and pretty soon the inequality is as great as it ever was.  Policy 
makers from more affluent districts argue they need funding to provide 
students with greater options just to keep their students in the public 
schools.  In the meantime districts such as Meridian build swimming pools in 
their schools while Orofino has to beg for textbooks. (I think it's 
Meridian--it's one of the newer schools in the Boise Valley.)

A couple of years ago there was an appellate court case that also speaks to 
another motive for disparate funding.  It was out of New York and parents in 
the city were claiming they were being treated unfairly in the distribution 
of state education monies. The judge agreed, but he said that was ok because 
in our society we have a need for people with less education to do the 
menial jobs such as short order cook and housekeeper.

Andreas, I do go on...sorry.  I know you wanted a short and simple response.

Sue Hovey



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andreas Schou" <ophite at gmail.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 11:01 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] Fwd: Abolish Property Taxes Now!


> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Andreas Schou <ophite at gmail.com>
> Date: Jan 30, 2007 1:00 PM
> Subject: Abolish Property Taxes Now!
> To: Vision202 at moscow.com
>
>
> Is there any particular reason that schools are funded (unequally) by
> property taxes and not equitably funded out of the state coffers?
> Forcing the public schools to go to the voters every few years, hat in
> hand, to beg for money seems both unseemly and inefficient. Further,
> property tax levies are a profoundly regressive tax -- poorer areas
> with lower property values are required to levy funds more frequently,
> and in larger amounts (percentage-wise) than rich areas. Can anyone
> think of any compelling public policy reason that this occurs?
>
> -- ACS
>
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