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State budget
short-changes levy equalization
Sixteen
percent cut will hurt small,
property-poor school districts
Despite the mantra of "One Washington" state Democrats tout,
Reps. Don Cox and
Skip Priest today said state budget writers cutting levy-equalization dollars have pit wealthy suburban area school districts
against less affluent, property poor districts.
The state operating budget passed today cut 16 percent, or $60 million,
from levy matches to local school districts. In an effort to make up
those dollars, the budget also allows school districts to lift their
levy lids by 4 percent, which currently vary by district between 24 and
34 percent.
Cox and Priest question whether cash-strapped voters, particularly those
in areas of extremely high unemployment, will approve school levies in
this economy. This, they said, makes the notion that somehow lifting the
levy lids will make school districts whole is irrational. That's why they
offered an amendment
to the budget bill to restore the funds.
In his floor remarks, Cox said Seattle will fare far better under the
cuts because they have high property values, and are proportionally more
affluent than their neighbors to the east and in unincorporated areas.
Rural people, he said, support their schools, but smaller tax bases and
higher-than-average tax rates create a dramatic disparity.
“If I were a homeowner in King County, and I owned a home that was worth
$317,000, my tax obligation would be at the rate of 71-cents per
thousand of assessed valuation. I would pay a tax on that home of $225.
However, if I were a homeowner in Benton County, that same home would be
worth $191,000, and my tax rate would be $4.29, and I would pay $819 in
tax on that house,” said Cox, R-Colfax. “We passed a bill in 2003 that
said we would fund levy equalization at 100 percent and never reduce it.
Our rural communities are falling further behind, and for that reason,
and in the interest of fairness, I offer this amendment.”
"This is
simply unacceptable budgeting," said Priest, R-Federal Way. "In 2003
when we faced a budget crisis just like today, we still decided to pass
a law committing to 100 percent funding for levy equalization. We have
worked to keep that promise for six years, and now we're falling down and not
honoring the hand shake we made with our school districts. If there has
ever been a worse case of 'reverse Robin Hood' on this floor, we have
not heard it on the House floor. Taking from the poor and giving to the
rich while avoiding our constitutional mandate. This cut hurts the
poorest kids and those we worry about the most. This amendment was aimed
at ensuring we keep our promises and ensure every child has an equal
opportunity to succeed."
The Cox/Priest amendment was defeated 43-52.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
For more information, contact:
Bill Taylor, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7074 |
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