Debate over Senate Bill 5 18: should local property taxes follow public-school students to charter schools?

Lede

The House Ways and Means Committee took public testimony Jan. 28 on Senate Bill 5 18, a measure to require some local property-tax revenue be shared with public charter schools so that public funds “follow” the student regardless of which public school (charter or district) the student attends.

Nut Graf

Supporters said the bill closes an unfair funding gap, noting many charter students are poor and receive less local revenue than neighbors in traditional public schools. Opponents — superintendents, school boards, teachers’ unions and many parents — warned the design would sharply cut funds available to school districts and imperil transportation, special education and building upkeep without clear, guaranteed replacement funding.

Body

What the bill would do: SB 5 18 phases in a mechanism to apportion some operating and (new) capital levy proceeds proportionally to the public school that actually educates a pupil. The measure phases implementation over several years and includes grandfathering language for existing debt service. The legislation excludes existing capital debt (grandfathered) but creates sharing rules for newly issued capital levies and provides a…