Fwd: School Taxes

[WMSteed@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/7/00 1:00:56 PM, gschroed@senate.state.id.us writes:

<< Public School Appropriation recommended by Governor for FY 2001 is 
$811,964,900, which is 46.68% of general fund dollars less Property Tax 
Replacement Appropriation.  FY 2000 Public School budget was $763,672,000 
which was 47.22% of General fund dollars less Property Tax Replacement 
Appropriation.  

The tax cut would result in an amount for Public Schools which would be $15 
or more less than the Governor's recommendation for FY 2001.   Depending upon 
which bill passes, there may be another $20 million taken out of the public 
school budget for a loan fund for school facilities. >>


Thanks to Rep. Schroeder it appears what I suspected about Jim Fisher's 
recent editorial in the Lewiston Morning Tribune is true.   Fisher's slant on 
the $41 million tax cut proposal was that it would reduce the school 
appropriation $15 million below the Governor's school budget proposal.  

>From Rep. Schroeder's figures, however, it appears the $15 million reduction 
still results in an increase of $33 Million plus above last year's public 
education funding. 

With the possible additional reduction by $20 million directed to a school 
facilities loan fund, the public school appropriation would still be up $13 
million. 

In my view, not quite Fisher's "It compromises public education."

Guess its all in the eye of the beholder.

Walter Steed