Describes the development of Proposition One, which threatened to drastically cut education and social services in Florida by reducing the State and local governments' purchasing power to below 1980 levels. Assesses the potential for resurgence of the legislation, following its removal from the ballot by the State Supreme Court. (GC)

Although many factors discourage the movement to build a community college on Chicago's wealthy North Shore, a few leaders with political clout won state sanction for such an institution. A flaw in the state law denies the area's citizens a referendum on the issue, but corrective legislation is now pending. (NHM)

The budget-cutting implications of Proposition 13 in California make it important that parks and recreation professionals be committed to providing what the public needs through fine management, sensitive programming, and citizen participation in policy formation. (JD)

Summarizes alternative tax systems available to school districts in Ohio and reviews their development. Presents socioeconomic information about the populations of two Ohio towns, summarizes limitations of the property tax as the primary source of local school funds, and discusses implications of passing a city-district income tax in Euclid, Ohio.…

This practicum report describes a step-by-step plan followed by the author and his employer, the Massachusetts Teachers' Association (MTA), to correct the fiscal disparities that existed in the Massachusetts school finance system and to provide property tax relief to Massachusetts taxpayers. The plan included assessing the existing Massachusetts…

The ramifications of a decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court that legislation shall provide for the maintenance and support of a "thorough and efficient" system of free public education for all children in the state from ages 5 to 18 are discussed. Salient points made by the court in the decision are examined, and ensuing reactions…

THE FREE TUITION POLICY OF UNIVERSITIES AND STATE COLLEGES IN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN QUESTIONED IN RECENT YEARS, AND BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED FOR A DEFERRED TUITION PROGRAM. THIS REPORT EVALUATES THE CONCEPT OF FREE TUITION IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY AND MOTIVATION, AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM INCREASED INDIVIDUAL EARNING POWER.…

A synopsis is presented of Alabama higher education-related legislation that gained approval and a detailed analysis of the 1979-80 appropriations for higher education is provided. Both special and regular sessions of the 1979 Alabama Legislature are covered. During the regular session, from April 17, 1979 through July 30, 1979, only 12 of…

This report summarizes the status of states' budgets at the end of fiscal year 1997. The year's strong national economy boosted tax revenues and helped to decrease welfare rolls. Unemployment at the end of 1997 was below 5 percent nationally and real GDP growth was 3.5 percent for the first 3 quarters of the year. These indicators translate into…

This report contains the final recommendations of the Michigan Senate Select Committee on Higher Education on tuition policy at Michigan public colleges and universities. The report presents its findings and recommendations in three large parts. The first section contains the final recommendations of the Committee including goals of affordability…

This study sought to quantify economic impacts associated with Texas state expenditures on higher education by (1) quantifying the reduction in Texas' economic activity associated with reduced spending by the private sector due to taxes levied for higher education; and (2) quantifying the increase in Texas' economic activity associated with the…

This document provides background information on educational finance in North Dakota. It examines the use of nonproperty factors in financing education, the quality of education, legal action in the state regarding education finance issues, and the effects of any 1993 North Dakota legislation on education finance. The paper first describes changes…

1976 saw a number of major fiscal changes occurring in New Jersey, all of which had an impact on educational funding. These include the imposition of a state income tax, a property tax rebate program, and a new system of funding public education that significantly increases the state's share of total education support. Based on a measure of the…