Many warn against Idaho finance plan using sales tax to fund education
School administrators, school board leaders, and some parents are warning against a new Idaho finance plan that would fund education through an increased sales tax, as opposed to property tax. Opponents of Governor Jim Risch's plan worry that removing locally-generated money in favor of a state tax could lead to a reduced say from local school leaders in the operation of the schools. The Idaho School Boards Association, the Idaho Association of School Administrators, and the Boise based Parent-Community Advisory Council all oppose the plan, citing concerns about replacing a stable funding source with one that may not keep pace with education needs. In times of economic distress, schools will have to compete for resources with other state-funded programs, such as universities, corrections, and Medicaid, says Jane Orndorff, a Boise School District trustee. Additionally, there are fears as to the amount of control state legislatures will want over local schools. A similar plan was enacted in Michigan in the mid-1990s. While the plan worked well for a few years, the Michigan legislature then cut the state income tax and trimmed the amount going into education, according to Justin King, the Michigan Association of School Boards executive director. Even those opposed to the Idaho plan, however, recognize that property tax relief is important. But they do not believe that all relief should come from education's property taxes.
Idaho StatesmanBy Bill Roberts
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Editor's Note: For information on similar debates in Pennsylvania and South Carolina, see the links below.]
[NSBA School Law pages on new Pennsylvania law][NSBA School Law pages on new South Carolina tax law]