A good start on NH school funding
Today the NH State Senate Education committee is taking testimony on two important bills that would save state property taxpayers substantial amounts on their local unfair and inequitable property taxes.
SB 584 would provide up to 50% of the cost for children with high excess and high special education program requirements from the State coffers.
SB 582 would mandate funding the Supreme Court decision last July at the MINIMUM requirement for an Adequate Education as a result of the Con Val decision ($7,356) per pupil. This would shift approximately $500 million off local property tax and add it to the state responsibility.
The reason this is so important to citizens of all political persuasion is that the state has far more alternatives to consider in creating a creative funding formula and revenue generating options than just the property tax. Town’s do not! EFA’s, Basic Adequacy, Charter School reimbursements and other funding streams are all positively affected by the Basic Adequacy Amount increasing and the horribly inequitable and disastrous local education property tax is reduced for everyone.
Urge your Senators and Representatives to support these measures. Not the full answer, but a great start.