Our Neighborhood Schools Need You: The Budget Battle
School fundraisers pushing students to sell ugly wrapping paper, chemically filled cookie dough, and magazines (that will only be used as doorstops) is no way to fund classrooms.
Funding of public education varies across the United States, as there is no "education system" in the nation. Schools receive funds through consumer taxes, income taxes, and property taxes. Grants, donations, and fundraisers also contribute to school funds. These monies are then regulated for use by various laws at the state, county, and local level. For example, federal and state politicians pre-determine how funds are spent in schools for such matters as special education. The remainder of monies is considered part of the general fund.
In California, and other states, the state is responsible for a significant amount of the education budget. 30% of education dollars in California are set aside for sixty categorical or restricted items, such as special education, adult education, after school programs, and many other programs. (Weston, Margaret. “California’s New School Funding Flexibility.” Public Policy Institute of California.) The other 70% of the education budget is derived from local property taxes, local taxes, and donations. Categorical funds ensure certain programs and items are paid for in schools, although restricts the ability of school board members to use funds in other ways to meet the needs of specific local student bodies and teachers.
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The following news article illustrates the rascally nature of politicians dealing with tax payer money and education funds.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
"In a bold move to make up for $49.5 million in tax revenues lost to the state earlier this year the County of Orange will grab $73.5 million in property taxes once destined for local school districts, County Supervisors Chairman Bill Campbell said Monday.
Campbell said that state coffers, not the school districts, will suffer, because a state law mandates that it backfill the reduction in local revenue.
County employees who were scheduled to be laid off December 1 as a result of the county’s $49.5 million shortfall received an unexpected reprieve.
Prop. 98, which locks in a number of school funding formulas, requires the state to backfill the funding cut, said Campbell, who is board chairman.
'We believe the school districts will not be harmed by this action,' Campbell said.
Sundstrom will issue his annual estimates of tax allocations to local jurisdictions today, and they will include $73.5 million less for the county’s school districts.
'Orange County taxpayers are going to be able to keep taxpayer money in the county to be spent on the county services they deserve to have,' Campbell said.
Orange County’s tactics are expected to find few fans in Sacramento, which is facing its own mid-year cuts to schools and other services.
'The county’s intended decision to withhold money owed to schools is not only misguided, but likely illegal,' said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the state Department of Finance. 'We are considering all of our legal options in the event that the county attempts to carry out this action.'
'I sympathize with the County, and understand why it’s taking such aggressive action,' said Assemblyman Jose Solorio, who unsuccessfully tried to reverse the state’s money grab in September. 'But we really need to find a fair solution in Sacramento that works for the County, local schools and the state on an annual basis.' (Edds, Kimberly. “County to Grab $73 Million from Schools, Force State to Make up for It.” The Orange County Register.)
Properly funding education is complex and each neighborhood school varies in its needs and wants.
More transparency in the exact source, allocation, and use of funds in schools would be welcome to shed light on how tax payer funds are utilized.
In states, such as California, with a significant number of categorical funds, citizens, teachers, students, and other stakeholders must engage their representatives at every level of government about those categories and possible elimination of some or all restricted funds.
Overall, it takes active, robust, and interested citizens to ensure neighborhood public schools are properly funded. It is essential to ensure student needs are being met, there are limits on federal and state control of neighborhood public schools, politicians are held accountable (voted into or out of office), parents foster healthy children and scholarly behavior, school board members do not overreact by laying off teachers and slashing programs, and tax policies do not harm tax payers and students.
 |
| Visit Amazon to purchase your copy of Empowering Students: Transitioning from Management to Accountability by Brad Johnson. |
Properly funding education is complex and each neighborhood school varies in its needs and wants.
More transparency in the exact source, allocation, and use of funds in schools would be welcome to shed light on how tax payer funds are utilized.
In states, such as California, with a significant number of categorical funds, citizens, teachers, students, and other stakeholders must engage their representatives at every level of government about those categories and possible elimination of some or all restricted funds.
Overall, it takes active, robust, and interested citizens to ensure neighborhood public schools are properly funded. It is essential to ensure student needs are being met, there are limits on federal and state control of neighborhood public schools, politicians are held accountable (voted into or out of office), parents foster healthy children and scholarly behavior, school board members do not overreact by laying off teachers and slashing programs, and tax policies do not harm tax payers and students.
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Credits
https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-coin-1602726/
https://www.ocregister.com/2011/11/14/county-to-grab-73-million-from-schools-force-state-to-make-up-for-it/
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