Discusses frustrations regarding funding for education. Predicts that awareness of the need to educate young people for the future will result in the public's willingness to pay the taxes necessary to support the programs. (JOW)

Summarizes state tax relief legislation that was supported by the Joint State Legislative Committees of the National Retired Teachers Association and the American Association of Retired Persons. Notes that generating public and political support for increased funding for education will be a challenge in the current fiscal climate. (Author/IRT)

Examines Michigan's attempt to abolish the school property tax and implications for New York State policymakers. Michigan substantially reduced the local property tax for local school operations, adopted a permanent set of tax and revenue limits, and devised a problematic assessment cap. Totally eliminating the local school property tax may be…

The small school district of Channahon, Illinois challenged the assessed valuation of a local oil refinery, won the appeal, and negotiated a settlement with the company to stabilize the assessed valuation through 1990. (MLF)

Summarizes American public school finance history from the post World War II period to the present, focusing on the work of R.L. Johns, Edgar Morphet, and numerous colleagues. Discusses the conflict and schism in school finance during the 1970's resulting from demands for greater equity in the face of diminishing local financing choices. (MLH)

The administration's proposal to end state and local tax deductions could cost public schools $24 billion in funding cuts and has far reaching ramifications for public education. Projections of state-by-state losses are presented as well as projections of tax liability increases to individuals and businesses. (MD)

This article examines the trend toward tax reduction in many states and discusses the possible effects on educational finance. (MC)

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)

Simulates effects of regional, nonresidential, expanded tax-base (ETB) school-finance approaches on measures of student and taxpayer equity for New York State. ETB plans are regressive, as they fail to decrease the variation in tax burden across districts, allowing high-wealth districts lower relative tax burdens. (23 references) (MLH)

Taxpayer unhappiness with increasing property taxes have prompted changes to Wisconsin's school finance system. In the midst of providing property-tax relief, the new tax base structure remains intact and allows school districts to exceed their revenue limits with a majority vote in districtwide elections. Debate is ongoing. (MLH)

Analysis of figures nationwide indicates that local school districts have reduced their reliance on property taxes while states have increased support for schools. However, states face serious fiscal problems, and the property tax system should be reviewed in light of the need for more local support for schools. (MJL)

Explores the implications for California schools from new legislation calling for school improvement and, at the same time, Proposition 13 that reduced the property taxes. (Author/MLF)

Examines a school district's experience with property revaluation that produced a 33 percent increase in the school taxes of some residential property owners. When small segments of different municipalities comprise the same school district, revaluation may shift the local tax burden. District administrators should prepare for potential changes.…

Research into voters' reasons for supporting or opposing Proposition 2 1/2, Massachusetts's 1980 property tax limitation measure, revealed that educational issues were of moderate importance and that voters were more interested in restructuring educational finance and governance than in reducing school budgets. Still the passage of the measure…

Finds that school property taxes have been substantially reduced under the new Michigan school finance system and have been replaced with new state revenues, although it is uncertain whether these new state dollars will be available in a recession. Finds that substantial disparities remain between Michigan school districts in revenues and…