This publication summarizes research findings and other data on school financial elections during the past decade in an attempt to provide school officials with a useful compilation of the available information. Major topics addressed in the report include 1) general trends regarding school financial elections in the 1960s and early 1970s, 2)…

This report discusses some of the financial problems facing Colorado public schools. Fiscal reform recommendations designed to improve educational quality and to provide educational equality are offered to citizens and elected leaders. Education finance problems are discussed within the context of (1) the professional staff, (2) the educational…

Uses ordinary least-squares multivariate regression analysis to determine if jurisdictional types vary in their willingness to increase taxation for schools, employing 892 education fund referenda conducted in Illinois from 1981 to 1989. Outcomes do differ by jurisdiction type. The strongest predictor is willingness to pay for higher taxes. (29…

This study identifies successful election strategies employed by community colleges in bond issues or tax levy increase elections, and distills these strategies into a list of principles or rules that can be utilized by colleges in preparing for such an event. Results of case studies conducted at Maricopa (Arizona), Santa Monica (California), and…

School district bond ratings, issued on request by Standard and Poor's Corporation or Moody's Investors Service, hold implications for school districts' financial management. Ultimately, the bond rating assigned is a factor affecting the total cost of the bond issuance, related to the principal and interest payments over the life of the debt. A…

With passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, school systems became liable to the federal government for any profits earned on tax-exempt bonds. Understanding the requirements is essential for any board facing significant capital financing. Outlines requirements, exceptions to the rule, penalties, costs, and debt planning. (MLF)

Cites lack of effective programs in reading readiness and decline of teacher-parent relationship as two major reasons for the discontent that has caused communities to reject bond issues, and outlines some steps that could be taken by administrators and teachers to help regain the public's sagging confidence. (Author/EA)

After explaining briefly the history of educational funding in the United States, the authors discuss the current revenue sources and fiscal status of American public school facilities financing. Included are three tables with state-by-state information concerning bond referenda, public school bonded indebtedness, and debt loads. (JBM)

This article describes a campaign for the passage of a 1989 bond referendum for the construction of two elementary schools in rural Lunenburg County, Virginia. The article, written from the perspective of a neophyte school superintendent, offers a demographic description of the county, describes various voter groups, and provides a chronology of…

This paper discusses five scenarios that have had an impact on school finance in the state of South Carolina during recent years. These scenarios include (1) the Education Finance Act of 1977 (EFA); (2) the Education Improvement Act of 1984 (EIA); (3) the issue of fiscal independence; (4) school fees; and (5) school bonds. The EFA was designed to…

The combination of defeated bond issues and rising building costs is contributing to a decline in both the construction of new school buildings and the remodeling of existing buildings. For the first time in many years, debt service and capital outlay expenditures actually declined on a per pupil basis. No change in either voter preferences or…

This compendium describes the programs of state financial aid to school districts that were in effect in the 1978-79 school year. The introductory section of the report is an analysis of the situation and contains summary tables. The report for each state consists of two parts. The first part reports features of the state and local systems of…

This publication describes state funds transmitted to local agencies for the support of elementary and secondary education. Each distribution identified as a separate fund by the state is described in terms of (1) title, (2) legal citation, (3) appropriation for the school year or estimate, (4) percentage of total state funds transmitted, (5)…

The success of Proposition 13 in California gave impetus to similar tax limitation efforts in other states. Information included in this booklet is intended to help local, state, and federal education finance policy-makers wrestling with this issue. The first section summarizes efforts in each state to limit taxation and expenditure both by…