Monday, January 17, 2000
Bill would alter school fund
N. Ky. districts fear less for them
BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A bill that would exclude tax income from the assessed value of unmined coal from the state education funding formula could mean a loss of dollars for Northern Kentucky school districts.
The bill, proposed by three Eastern Kentucky representatives, would not count revenue generated from taxes on unmined coal as part of the money available to schools. This would make school districts in coal counties eligible for additional state aid.
Such a change to the school funding formula could mean less money available for all schools. That has superintendents in Northern Kentucky worried.
“It's an unfair advantage that causes tax dollars from this area to go to other places,” said Erlanger-Elsmere Schools Superintendent James Molley. “There's only one industry down there and it's coal. My feeling is that in Northern Kentucky we should be able to exempt shopping centers and businesses if they are going to do that.”
Mr. Molley, president of the Northern Kentucky Superintendents Association, has asked members to write to their legislators. He also sent a letter to each member of the region's legislative caucus, asking them to oppose the bill.
Reps. Ira Branham, D-Pikeville; Chris Ratliff, R-Pikeville; and Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, sponsored the bill, now in the Education Committee.
Schools receive money from the state based on the amount of assessed property. The higher the assessed value, the more state money a school district can receive.
Exactly how much money some schools could gain and others could lose is not clear.
Rep. Jon Draud, R-Crestview Hills, said the bill “is one of those things that doesn't benefit the rest of the state.
“You have to assume it would be a negative effect unless you are a coal county.”
Mr. Draud said he wants more information about the economic impact of the bill before he makes a final decision.
Under the state's funding formula, school boards must levy a minimum tax rate of $0.30 per $100 of assessed property value. Schools can get that money in a variety of ways, including utility and property taxes.
Beechwood Schools Superintendent Fred Bassett said the state should look at the total income schools receive, not just property wealth, when calculating funding.
“If you're allowed to exclude certain sources of income from (the formula) then you are painting an inaccurate picture of the ability of schools to raise tax money,” Dr. Bassett said.
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