Posted on 03/23/2002 1:15:01 PM PST by Theodore R.
State property tax plan in the works
Associated Press
AUSTIN (AP) - Acting Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff is drafting a school-funding formula that would include a statewide property tax, an idea that Republican Gov. Rick Perry said Friday he'd "take a look at."
Ratliff, the architect of the current school-funding system that relies heavily on local property taxes, is drafting the plan for the 2003 legislative session, when lawmakers are expected to consider whether to overhaul the entire system.
Through a spokeswoman, Ratliff declined to give any details of his plan, but confirmed it is in the works. Ratliff expects to present the plan at next month's meeting of the joint House-Senate select committee on school finance.
Asked whether he would support a statewide property tax, which would take a constitutional amendment approved on statewide referendum, Perry wouldn't rule it out.
"I would suggest we'll put all options on the table and take a look at them and have a good and open debate," said Perry, who is seeking election to a full four-year term.
"I haven't seen anything that Sen. Ratliff's put on the table at all. It's the first time I've heard of it."
Perry's opponent in November, Democratic nominee Tony Sanchez, has said repeatedly that he won't consider new taxes but would try to find more money for schools by trimming waste in the budget. He hasn't identified specific areas to cut.
"Taxes are off the table," he said again Tuesday night at a Democratic Party fund-raiser.
Sanchez campaign director Glenn Smith reiterated that position Friday.
"Creation of new taxes is something that we're opposed to," said Smith. He said the campaign would have to look at any Ratliff proposal before offering any further comment.
Ratliff, a Mount Pleasant Republican who defeated a conservative in the GOP primary on March 12, helped write the current formula known as the Robin Hood system, which sends some money from property-rich school wealthy districts to poorer districts.
Ratliff is seeking re-election to his Senate seat from a heavily Democrat area of the state and will not be the lieutenant governor in the 2003 session. He is regarded as the state budget expert in the Senate.
Several school districts have unsuccessfully sued under claims the current formula is unconstitutional.
Many complain about its provision preventing school districts from raising taxes for maintenance and operating budgets to over $1.50 per $100 property valuation.
About one-fifth of the state's 1,050 school districts are at the cap.
Wealthy districts that have reached or are approaching the cap claim they are being forced to cut programs, while advocates for poorer schools say too large a gap remains between rich and poor districts.
Perry said he expects there will be many new school funding proposals.
"Certainly I hope we're able to find a solution that will move us more towards a system of fairness," Perry said.
"I know the Robin Hood bill is not fair. It's inequitable. It's causing great hardship in parts of the state. Hopefully we can come up with an answer here in the future," he said.
No one should have to pay for someone else's kids to attend school, until *everyone* pays. Why not add a use tax of a sort, so that we *all* pay, and at the same rate? Then, I'll be happy to pay my property tax for city services.
The article doesn't say so, but it seems to imply that Ratliff's plan for a state property tax would replace the local property tax.
That would be preferable to the current Robin Hood plan, which is wrecking suburban Republican school districts by forcing them to curtail activities.
This plan would get a lot of backing up here in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
On the contrary, a state property tax would appeal to anybody whose kid is in public school.
That's a lot of folks.
Have the parent(s) pay something for the schools; those who own nothing in the way of property, pay nothing, but darned well furnish the cities with kids, for us to take care of. Subsidized housing, or the free rent--who pays property tax? No one. Who makes up the difference for this, and any/all abatements? The property owners, that's who.
Since the school boards tell the city how much they *want*, they have no incentive to avoid wasting money, allow the kids to destroy school property. A few adults need to be in charge of this out-of-control school nonsense. And, tell me the kids learn--yeah, right, that is why we need all these job training programs the Liberals always screech about.
Across the board tax cuts & spending reductions would be my answer.
But I'm just a humble citizen who hasn't near the intellect of the solons elected at the local, state & national governments.
Let's just be thankful this man has an 'R' after his name and he's not one of those unscrupulous liberals.
TexasGal...My sarcasm isn't directed towards you personally. I'm just tired of all the accomodating being shown to the 'Republican' Party.
The State Legislature comes up with all these mandates, then the schools have to fund them, whether they help with the education of their students or not. They determine the curriculum, not the needs of each school.
Some schools in Texas are better than others - some districts just do a better job of managing money and talents - my children were NOT in a good district and I pulled them out and homeschooled.
But here in Pennsylvania we are paying more in taxes than we were in Texas but both of my children are back in public school and I am very pleased with the level of dedication and skill of their teachers. They are paid well here and a lot is demanded of them..... I think a lot of what happens in a school district is determined by the upper management -
Our schools here in PA are also in a crunch and are looking for new funding ideas..... the State has dropped it's level of funding from over 75% to less than 30% over the past 10 years....... the burden is directly on the local taxpayers and it is hurting the elderly tremendously...
I appreciate your comments and I hope that we all get the help needed to fund schools so they can work they way they should...
There is a reason Michigan got rid of this ASSININE plan back in 1994.
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