Small Town News

School tax change bears consideration

---

A proposal in the state Senate that would shift property taxes from local districts to the state in order to fund education has the seed of good public policy, but must be explored further.

The bill (SB 6858), co-sponsored by Sen. Cheryl Pflug, generally proposes that local school districts have their levy lid decreased, meaning less local school taxes. In exchange, the state would increase its property tax rate by a corresponding amount.

For the average taxpayer, there would be precious little difference. A different government agency would be taking about the same amount of money from the same pocket.

However, there are some obvious benefits. First is that the state would finally begin to live up to its responsibility to fund education. The extra funding might even be able to jump-start last year's effort that redefined basic education but did not identify funding for it.

Second, it could reduce local school districts' dependence on passing a levy every few years just to be able to pay their teachers.

While voters, at least in King County, have been generous, it would only take one failed measure to cripple a district.

We imagine that most school districts would welcome knowing that they have a stable, reliable funding source instead of having to go out hat in hand every third or fourth year.

But the idea also raises some questions. First, how much of the money sent to Olympia would actually find its way back here?

When the state is battling a once-in-a-generation budget problem, it might be tempting for legislators to use some fiscal tricks to help fund other budget priorities.

There is something to be said for keeping money local.

Pflug says that almost two-thirds of districts would receive more funds. What about the other third? We're not sure how the math works out that such a large proportion of districts would get more money without someone, somewhere, getting less.

Pflug's bill could be a good step toward the state taking responsibility for its share of funding, but the devil is in the details.



Copyright 2010 The Issaquah Press, Issaquah, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Issaquah Press Issaquah, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Issaquah Press