Make changes before freezing property taxes
Before the state Legislature acts to freeze property taxes, it must first fund or remove its mandates.
Some members of the Pennsylvania Legislature are suggesting that now is the time to freeze property taxes. This is absolutely possible, but first lawmakers must fund their mandates.
Public schools have been defunded by a slow, steady move by state legislators to take away funds by forcing districts to spend the money on programs other than education.
First, transportation. Public school districts are forced to pay to transport private school and charter school students 10 miles beyond the district borders. Why? We do not allow our public school students to be bused out of their districts. Why are taxpayers funding this trip for private school students?
This is an easy fix. Unless a student is protected by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, the district should not be forced to pay to transport outside its borders.
In fact, the cost of busing outside districts is putting student health and safety at risk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends, and a Pennsylvania legislative report agrees, that high school should not start before 8:30 a.m. But many school officials say they will not change start times because of the increased cost that would be forced on them due to requirement to transport students to out-of-district private schools.
Second, standardized testing. These tests cost money. And they have not been proven to improve education outcomes. Our teachers and students are stressed. These tests take away time from instruction and force teachers to teach to the test.
Schools could easily transition to a curated final exam. The state Department of Education would receive a sample of tests to review, and a minimum passing grade would be set. We can add peer review so teachers help teachers.
Third, school construction. Two schools in Phoenixville built with geothermal heating systems save taxpayers $70,000 per year. We can do this everywhere with the added benefit of creating good jobs.
Also, the Phoenixville School District moved to use in-district companies first where possible. This too would help local economies and returns funds to local taxpayers. The state can mandate or prioritize reimbursement of school construction that utilizes sustainable materials, local companies and renewable energy.
Fourth is IDEA funding. Congress must act immediately to increase the budget caps now in place and increase IDEA funding by 5%. Currently districts receive approximately 17% of the promised 40% funding. If districts received their full funding they could pay for other programs without raising property taxes.
In one district the estimate shortfall due to IDEA funding was $3.5 million. The tax increase in the same year was about $1 million. Clearly having this funding would allow districts to balance the budget without an increase.
There are many other areas we need to consider changing as well for our schools to reopen.
Cafeterias will be a thing of the past. We must create small group eating spaces.
Class sizes may need to be lowered. We need to have better ventilation to comply with CDC recommendations, outdoor classes, courtyards and more time for students to be outside. Longer classes on alternate days will ease congestion and assist with social distance for our students. We need to include teachers, staff, parents and students in these conversations about how to reopen.
School boards must have public meetings and engage staff and families. Ongoing policy discussion around equity, sustainability and community tax rebate programs must continue and be prioritized.
Yes, we can freeze property taxes, but first we need to tell the Legislature to fund their mandates or remove them.
Lisa Longo is a member of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Property Tax Reform Task Force and former president of the Phoenixville School Board.