Lawmakers to debate study on taxing power for schools
A bill proposes to study the effects of school boards' power to tax, and local board members weigh possibilities
Date published: 1/13/2008
BY KAREN BOLIPATA
Should elected school boards in Virginia have the power to levy taxes?
A few bills introduced in this year's General Assembly aim to resurrect that contentious issue.
It's something that has been discussed since 1992, when state law cleared the way for school board members to be elected rather than appointed.
"It'll be controversial. There's no question about that," said Del. Tom Rust, R-Herndon, who is sponsoring a bill at the request of the Loudoun County School Board that proposes a study on the ramifications.
Democratic Del. Lionell Spruill and Republican Sen. Harry Blevins, both of Chesapeake, have introduced similar bills.
Virginia is one of nine states in the country with fiscally dependent school boards, according to the National School Boards Association. Thirty-four states have autonomous boards, and 26 states allow districts to have taxing ability if they choose.
Currently, school boards in Virginia request local funding from boards of supervisors or city councils. But only the supervisors or council members can raise taxes to fund schools.
That process often leads to conflict. The school board is usually pushing to improve education, while the board of supervisors or council is under pressure to keep a lid on taxes.
Proponents of giving school boards such authority say it would let school board members directly communicate with voters. Critics argue that allowing school boards to solely handle funds would take away the checks and balances now in place.
Rust wouldn't give his opinion on the issue.
"I don't think it's inappropriate to study it," he said. "It would be a different thing if I put in a bill that flat out gave it to them."
The Charlottesville-based Virginia School Boards Association is one of the most vocal supporters of the study.
Dick Pulley, the group's chief lobbyist, said the association wants the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to determine whether fiscally independent school boards would benefit or harm the process, whether taxes would increase if they were autonomous and what kinds of taxing methods would be used.
He has seen about eight similar bills fail in the same number of years. Last year, the Stafford County School Board supported the VSBA's request for a study.
THis is insane!(posted by
WeileMom
, Feb. 1, 2008 5:59 pm)
Just look at Illinois if you want to know if this is a good idea. We own a modest 3 bed, 2.5 bath home worth about $300K and pay $8000 a year in taxes! 71% goes to our local schools- all 9 of them.
This year a local school board shortened the school day by 1 hour and took away lunch, gym, art and music because the voters said no to a referendum. If you need proof look up Big Hollow schools in Illinois. For our taxes go to:
http://www.villageofgrayslake.com/info/propertytax.html
If the school boards can levy taxes..(posted by
freedomfirst
, Jan. 14, 2008 7:57 pm)
then the county government has to reduce it's tax levy by the same amount in the first year. In subsequent years if either wants to raise taxes by more than the cpi ( or student population growth or whatever)or they want to add a capital project and borrow money, the voters need to approve it in a special election.
Additionally, the school tax needs to be based on the number of children in the family, not on the value of residents real estate. Childless folks pay the least big breeders the most.
I am against this(posted by
patrick4hp
, Jan. 14, 2008 10:51 am)
Pay for the operating costs of the damn schools, and don't give school boards taxing authority. Everything in VA, the lottery and liquor at the ABC, is supposedly benefitting schools. I am just waiting for the selfish baby boomers to say, I don't have kids in schools anymore, I don't want to be taxed, even though their education was free, geez.
Weimcity...where did you get that info?(posted by
Chiswald
, Jan. 14, 2008 9:53 am)
The only difference between a commonwealth and a state is the name. A commonwealth is not considered a state where local county governments have more "pull". Commonwealths and states are exactly the same.
This Commonwealth does not work like the rest of the US(posted by
WeimCity
, Jan. 13, 2008 5:13 pm)
staffmom - You really need to radjust your mindset of you really believe that this Commonwealth can exist like the majority of 21st Century United States! The Commonwealth is not a "State", ie local county governments still have pull. Look at the so-called "No Car Tax" issue where the Commonwealth pays a portion of your auto tax (with tax dollars and its not free); car inspections are not required in many places, hunters can hunt all weekend if the they too in vast areas of this US. VA rules are different
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