The author examines sources of taxpayer discontent with property taxes and with public education. He proposes full state funding as a solution to education's financial dilemma. (Author/SJL)

This article examines some implications of the Serrano vs Priest decision for Oregon's system of financing public schools. The author presents one alternative financing method -- a Statewide system to assess, collect, and disburse to each district or county an amount equalized on a per student basis. The status of the school financing system in…

This paper reports that most of the States have appropriated more dollars to support local education than would be required to cover inflationary increases. According to the author, the new money is being channeled into equalization and foundation programs, and States are starting to experiment with "district power equalization." In its simple…

Public schools in New Jersey are financed primarily by local property taxes. This system of finance is unconstitutional, according to the New Jersey Supreme Court, and therefore it must be revised. The proposals for revision range from very slight increases in state school aid to complete state financing of schools, but all of the proposals shift…

This paper discusses alternative methods for financing education including sales and compensating taxes, mineral leasing, and land income. The author discusses the problem of local control under a full State funding system. He warns that merely allocating money to school districts on an equal basis will fail to accomplish equal education unless…

Many states have found that financing public schools through local property taxes is unlawful under their state constitutions; as a result, they must consider using state tax revenue as the primary source of local school-district funding. The recent California experience provides a sample of political economic behaviors used to respond to the…

Concentrating on states' needs for programs offered by institutions of higher education (IHE) and the manner in which these needs can be met and financed, the 3-part paper analyzes the elements included by "The Chronicle of Higher Education" in its ranking of states' suppoort of higher education based on the results of the Chambers…

This paper describes the development of school finance reform in Oregon from 1968 through legislative enactments in 1973 and proposals for the voters in 1974. The first section describes the 1973 school finance reform proposal, rejected by voters, as it was originally submitted (whereby the State would have assumed 95 percent of the operating…

This report concentrates on the equity problem in Illinois public school finance. Central to this report is the thesis that there are three basic strategies for attacking the equity problem: make adjustments in the existing "foundation level" grant-in-aid system, abandon the "foundation" idea for a grant-in-aid system, and…

This document examines the effect that alternative ways of reforming school finance would have on major city school districts. Using census data, the authors attempt to show that parity between tax effort and revenue yield will not in itself insure fiscal justice for most major city schools. The paper considers the higher costs of educational…

This book describes Nevada's system of education, its historical development, how the schools are organized and financed, what is taught, and who is qualified through what procedures to teach. Seven chapters cover the following subjects: (1) Nevada's natural resources--geography, climate, people, schools and countries and school enrollments; (2)…

This report contains nine speeches on various aspects of public school finance. Topics discussed include recent educational finance legislation, equalization aid, full State funding, property tax reform, and urban school finance reform. One speech describes the national public school finance picture; two others detail the Georgia school finance…

An essential prerequisite to reform of present methods of financing elementary and secondary schools and the development of an equitable, adequate, and workable system of school finance is a precise understanding of how the existing system works and its impact on different school districts and population groups. This report documents the existing…

This document contains papers that discuss (1) the role of the Federal Government in educational finance; (2) some proposals for full State funding of schools; (3) the implications for educational finance of recent State court decisions invalidating inequitable State school finance systems; (4) State plans for financing public schools; and (5)…

This study focuses on how central city school districts can benefit from educational finance reform. The publication is designed for use by both those charged with the responsibility for education matters and by the general public. The document begins with a discussion of the fiscal impact of several popular alternative school finance reforms,…