NY, consider funding schools akin to Vermont

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, New York state’s resources have been stretched thin, and public education is suffering huge budget cuts as a result. Districts are having to cut staff and even programs to operate under their shrunken budgets.

For some, this issue is less threatening. Several wealthy districts have a strong tax base of businesses and valuable properties and needn’t rely on state aid to provide for students. However, schools with a less robust base of property taxes do not have this luxury. There have long been efforts toward equitable school funding, the need for which will become even greater following this pandemic. Most have focused either on pressuring state government to devote more resources to funding schools in need, and some have proposed eliminating the property tax as a source for school funding altogether.

But there is a rarely mentwo tioned option that has been applied in the state of Vermont to great effect. In 1997, Vermont passed a law titled Act 60, which established a statewide system where all school tax money goes into a state education fund and is equally accessible to every school. Vermont schools are now funded equally and, therefore, state aid can be saved for schools with above average student needs.

Anyone who wishes to see this change take place in our state should research Act 60 and reach out to our local state legislators demanding action. Ian Justino Albany