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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mike Carroll |
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To: Editor, Community Express
From: State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe
RE: Growing school districts need more funding
In the past 15 years, enrollment in area school districts has grown steadily, resulting in the need for new schools or renovations, expanded staff and resources at existing schools.
While we can consider ourselves one of the very lucky areas in Pennsylvania that is actually experiencing a population growth rather than a population decline, the fact is that renovating facilities, purchasing more supplies and building new schools is very expensive and taxpayers generally end up shouldering most of the burden.
That’s because in Pennsylvania, property taxes are the primary source of funding for new schools.
State aid to districts isn’t distributed according to the number of students, so rapidly growing school districts like Pocono Mountain and Pleasant Valley end up receiving fewer dollars per student. Taxpayers are forced to make up the difference in the form of higher property taxes and students still don’t have the appropriate resources for adequate learning.
That’s why I voted no on the education portion of the recently enacted state budget for 2007-08. The money earmarked for education funding shortchanged area school districts and other growing districts that need more money to support the significant population increases we are experiencing. Although the state budget provides these districts with an annual growth supplement to help them cope with the additional expense, the amount varies significantly from year to year. One year, districts could get $300,000 and the next, $40,000. It is very difficult for these school districts, which have to do extensive budget planning anyway, to factor in the supplemental money when deciding on spending because they have no idea how much they’re going to get.
We must fulfill our obligation to provide students with the best education possible. I supported the majority of the state education budget but I just couldn’t justify a significant funding inequity when it comes to giving students what they need to learn.
The results of a costing-out study authorized by the legislature in 2006 and conducted by the state Board of Education will be released this November. A costing-out study outlines the resources and funding needed to provide each Pennsylvania student with a quality education that enables them to meet the required state standards.
Along with other area legislators, I’ll be reviewing the recommendations to help formulate future legislation that would address the problem of funding equity for school districts and their students so that young people get the education they need and taxpayers don’t foot more than their fair share of the bill. Our residents and our students deserve nothing less.
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