Summarizes arguments for and against replacing the local school property tax by a local school income tax. Explores the empirical effects of such policies for New York State. Using a 3% income tax and refashioning state aid to a foundation level of $8,068 per pupil would not require substantial new state revenues. (38 footnotes) (MLH)

The partial financing of New York State's public schools with a state-mandated tax coupled with state aid based upon county or regional wealth rather than local district wealth would provide greater equalization of both revenues and expenditures of school districts than does the present law. A comparable increase in state aid appropriations under…

New York State's School Tax Relief Aid (STAR) heavily favors wealthier districts, partially reversing equalizing effects that state aid is designed to have. Normally state school aid helps bring less wealthy school districts closer to the standard of wealthier districts. It increases and makes up the lost revenue from taxpayers in the state as a…

Evaluates estimates of full-value-equalization rates, using a study of 20 New York cities and their school districts to (1) show that these estimates contain significant errors, (2) discuss how these errors affect intergovernmental relations, and (3) analyze how they affect equity in financing local schools. (MCG)

Addition of fiscal response factors to the traditional simulation model of school finance demonstrates that the traditional model underestimates both the costs and impacts of state aid programs at the district level. The study reviews research on fiscal response--defined as school districts' taxing and spending behavior after receipt of state…

This report is designed to help the average school district voter, the new school board member, the PTA participant, and the civic organization member understand the operation of State aid distribution to the school districts of New York State. The publication provides a simplified version of the Educational Finance Task Force Proposal that was…

This article examines a method of determining school aid, potential sources of abrupt changes arising from revaluation, an illustrative case, and policy options. It finds many problems caused by jurisdictional fragmentation and time lags inherent in the equalization process. Tables include full-value determinations and school district property…

Eight proposals for the use of tax-levy funds in the support of postsecondary education are examined. Tax-levy funds are the major source of revenue for the institutions of the State University of New York and the City University of New York. The eight proposals are as follows: Tuition Offset Grants Plan, Student Access Grants Plan, Cost of…

Detailed information is provided on each of eight states included in a study of selected education finance characteristics. The eight states are Delaware, North Carolina, and Washington (States with a high level of state funding relative to total state-local funds for education); New York, Michigan, and California (moderate state aid states); and…

This publication provides information concerning New York State's school expenditures, state aid, and local support. Summarized are the finances of major school districts in the school year 1986-87 as well as public school expenditures and state aid since 1963-64. The first section deals with the financing of public education in New York State in…

The finances of major school districts in New York State during 1980-81 and 1981-82 are summarized in this report. Trend data are provided on full value, expenses, State aid, tax rates, and local levy. These items are also shown on a per pupil basis for the entire State, New York City, and the balance of the State. Eleven statistical tables are…

Among the major objectives of this study was the determination of the nature and extent of disparities in revenues and expenditures among a group of selected states, and among type of districts within and across these states. A common pattern in education finance characteristics was found within each type of district, particularly among central…

This paper attempts to examine for the State of New York the merits of a district power equalizing formula when it is compared to full State funding of a uniform expenditure level. The author argues against full State funding because he believes that the net effect of many independent decisions that affect small groups of children is preferable to…

The nonpublic schools of New York State spare the taxpayers the cost of educating, at public school rates, 15.5% of the state's elementary and secondary school population. The future looks good for these schools in that enrollment trend data indicates a stable enrollment with some possible increases. However, a stabilized enrollment means…

This report is a response to the Governor's Executive Budget for Fiscal Year 2003-04 for the state of New York. The report begins with an introduction, which attacks the budget, particularly in light of "NCLB schools and districts" (NCLB schools and districts are those designated by the New York State Education Department [NYSED] in need…