Using research conducted by the federal government's own finance department, social policy groups released the report, "Paying for Canada: Perspectives on Public Finance and National Programs." It showed that deliberate government policy to reduce taxation levels for some of the most economically advantaged groups in Canada had resulted…

This is the first in a trilogy of policy briefs discussing public education and taxes. This brief discusses the challenge facing Texas in funding public education. It also explains why the Texas Supreme Court's recent decision in "West Orange-Cove II" requires increased state appropriations for public education.

Stimulating economic activity by offering tax abatements can deprive schools of tax revenues for years while enrollment is increasing. Taking action forestalled a substantial loss of revenue for the Twinsburg City Schools in Ohio. Offers advice to boards facing a similar circumstance and suggests ways school boards can be involved in enterprise…

To improve the equity of Vermont's school finance system, the state legislature passed Act 60. This new funding mechanism is described, with a focus on the equity issues raised by the state supreme court. A court's decision struck down substantial dependence on local property taxes to provide revenue for local school districts. The report reviews…

Although Superintendent Frank Petruzielo arrived with briefcase full of plans to change Houston (Texas) school district, he spent his first year reworking his ideas in consultation with district teachers and administrators. He ignored school budget brokering that had occurred between previous school boards and business establishment, won 32%…

Illinois' education finance plan is described in the first of this report's two chapters, and the second chapter considers the finance plan's equity. Chapter 1 covers the state's Resource Equalizer Aid Program and the tax revenue it guarantees districts; the calculation of maximum tax guarantees and local shares; the apportionment of state aid;…

Reviews major issues surrounding funding of Nebraska's public schools and presents an alternative funding system sustaining the goals of local control, tax equity, and flexibility for program quality. The new formula would add an economic factor to the weighting of pupils and alow local tax flexibility for districts losing state funding. (MLH)

Studies the deleterious effects of Oregon's Measure 5 (a property relief measure) on two suburban elementary schools in Oregon City and West Linn. In both Oregon and California, a shift away from property taxes has not been accompanied by the development of adequate funding from other sources. Our growing willingness to provide for children's…

Citizens in rural Nebraska filed a lawsuit challenging the reliance on local property taxes for school funding that has led to inequities between rural and urban schools. One answer may be to give smaller school districts more money through a state system of taxation and equalization aid to improve school standards. (LP)

A model that is designed to measure and provide early understanding of the principle factors governing state support of public higher education and which is based on M. M. Chamber's annual data on state higher education appropriations is described. Design principles of the model are identified. The model consists of seven independent factors, four…

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…

This report describes a study aimed to help education advocates protect public schools and services from the effects of certain types of economic development subsidies. These subsidies include cutting companies' property taxes and granting long-term diversions of certain districts' property taxes to corporations making investment in those…

This publication provides information on the sources and amounts of funds available for prekindergarten through postsecondary education in Illinois common schools for 1996-97. The guidebook contains a summary of fiscal-year 1997 appropriations to the Illinois State Board of Education, as well as appropriations for educationally related purposes…

This document begins by presenting a general summary of Iowa's current school finance law, which dates back to steps taken in 1967 by the 62nd General Assembly, and by providing a current state aid chronology, organized by year, general assembly number, session, bill, and major features. Subsequent sections provide descriptions of the following:…

This document describes the organization, systems of management and governance, and financing of the San Diego Unified School District, serving over 122,000 students in California. The first chapter reviews the services provided by the district: instructional services, incorporating instructional personnel and programs; support service, including…