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Legislators discuss school funding in Monroe
Monroe reporter Denise Wilson has a story today about a community meeting held in Monroe to discuss school funding with two legislators.
State Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., and Rep. Bill Coley, R-Liberty Twp., attended a meeting Sunday afternoon to discuss school funding with citizens. School officials there held the meeting because it was something voters asked for during the bond issue campaign earlier this year.
About 50 people attended the meeting, which is actually pretty good turnout for these types of meeting. I’ve been told the district’s bond issue informational sessions during the campaign season were also pretty well attended.
Cates brought up a couple of interesting points regarding Ohio’s school funding system.
According to two measures — average teacher salary and per-pupil spending — the state’s funding system actually compares pretty well, said Cates. While some residents may feel Ohio’s funding system relies too much on property taxes, the state does put a lot of money into the schools, he said. In fact, education and Medicaid account for two-thirds of Ohio’s annual expenditures.
Ohio ranks above the national average in per-pupil spending at nearly $9,000, according to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau. Only about 16 states spend more than Ohio per pupil and those are mostly East coast states.
Ohio ranks 13th in the nation for average teacher salaries, according to the 2004-05 American Federation of Teachers report, the most recent report available. At $49, 438, Ohio’s average teacher salary ranks above the nation’s average.
Cates also talked about how much income or sales taxes would have to increase to support schools if the state did away with property taxes.
Many of the local administrators I have spoken to favor some mix of income, property and sales taxes. While relying on property taxes does put the burden of funding education predominately on homeowners, it also gives local residents more control over their schools than they likely would have if schools were totally state funded, something blog commenter Rick pointed out in the Alabama school funding profile posted Saturday.
What do you think of what Cates had to say in Monroe Sunday?
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Comments
By VietVet
April 14, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
People like Gary Cates, who has been working the Columbus government scene for years is part of the problem. He is in the group that refuses to find a funding solution ordered by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Given that fact, why would you want to invite and then talk to the problem children. They are the reason we property owners are incensed. You are wasting your time talking to Cates and company.