Moscow school education

["Steve Cooke" <scooke@uidaho.edu>]

Dear Visionaries,
	For the record I think my sons Eli and Brice have received excellent
elementary and secondary educations in the Moscow school district. I asked
Eli, who is a sophomore at the U. of Michigan this year, if there was any
deficiency in his high school preparation. He said no. His only complaint
was about not having enough lab experiences in the sciences (chemistry and
physics). My only compliant w/ Russell school (now that they have air
conditioners on the south facing rooms) where both my sons attended
elementary school is the need for a grass playground. There are some
excellent teachers in the Moscow school system who are the equal of any in
the US.
	Regarding cost subsidization of schools between farmers and college
students though the property taxes. There is a lot of cross subsidization in
our economy and the schools are no different. For example, should we discuss
the cross-subsidization in agriculture? (see http://www.ewg.org/farm and
this mornings LMT) Ag & forestlands are taxed at production value rather
than market value as other property is. Homeowners get a 50% reduction on
the first $100,000 of valuation. Business inventory is exempt from property
taxation. In general we cross subsidize to achieve policy goals that help
the group as a whole. Any one group can always claim unfairness, but the
point is to look at the larger picture. Is the system fair in general if not
in particular? I believe UI makes payments in lieu of taxes to the city for
city services and perhaps the school district as well. If it doesn't it
should. Renters pay twice the rate of property taxes as homeowners on the
first $100,000 of valuation. Also, looking only at property taxes in the
absence of the effect of sale and income taxes is another way to miss the
forest for the trees.
On the other hand, I also believe the property tax is unfair in Idaho. The
problem is not the schools however. The problem is the unwillingness of the
legislature to expand the sales tax base to services; to require the
reporting of land sales; to extend the circuit breaker to low income
homeowners and renters; and to provide state support for cities in the form
of revenue sharing. The special interests in the state have consistently
blocked these reforms. In fact, they have been successful in rolling back
the progressive income tax on individuals and businesses in the state. As a
result the Idaho tax system is more regressive and does not generate enough
revenue to pay for public services including education.
	Finally, to say that Moscow is the highest taxed (rate?) school system in
the state is the same distinction as being the highest mountain in Kansas.
Keep in mind that Blaine county (Sun Valley) has a low tax rate and one of
the highest expenditures per student in the state. They have a very strong
tax base.
Steve Cooke