State funding is inadequate for school districts
Thank you for publishing the “Education Big Winner in Budget Plan” article. Our community needs to know that the portion of funding coming from the state ranks 45th in the nation, placing an undue burden on local taxpayers; that the state funding is inadequate (the pie is too small) and inequitable (the pie is cut inequitably) and has been ruled unconstitutional; and that Gov. Shapiro’s budget reflects the first of a 7-year plan to fix this problem.
The proposed increased state funding will improve public education quality, mitigate the need for property tax increases, and help our most vulnerable taxpayers by shifting the tax burden from property taxes to income taxes. Property tax rates vary so much from district to district because districts with a lot of wealth and business infrastructure can raise a lot of local revenue with a lower tax rate and this proposal adjusts for that, leveling the playing field for taxpayers and schools.
Berks County residents would be especially helped by this proposal, which includes supplements for adequate and equitable funding. Berks districts receive on average a 17% increase, which is higher than every neighboring county, recognizing that due to inadequate state funding over time, Berks schools have had to rely unduly and more than other areas on property taxes.
The Boyertown School District community would also be particularly helped by this proposal, receiving a 13.8% boost, higher than 7 of our 10 neighboring districts and only 1 of 4 districts receiving both the adequacy and equity supplements.
Some of our legislators hail from school districts that have a lower burden on local taxpayers and therefore receive a smaller share from this proposal. For example, Rep. Donna Scheuren was formerly a school board member for the Souderton Area School District, which is receiving only a 2.7% increase and neither the equity nor the adequacy supplement. So it’s important to ask them to support the budget and let them see how it levels the playing field for our students, our communities and our taxpayers.