Following up on its previous research on the issues surrounding the State Court’s decision in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, CBC hosted two expert panel discussions focusing on key issues in education finance reform. This brief recounts the proceedings from the second of those discussions, which took place on April 27, 2006.
The State of New York faces a major challenge stemming from a 2003 ruling by the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court, which found that the more than one million children in New York City’s public schools were not provided with the sound basic education guaranteed to them by the State Constitution. CBC addressed two fundamental questions: Where should the money come from?
In response to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity recommendations and announcement that an additional $5.6 billion is required for education, CBC recommends that the City and State pursue enhanced gambling revenues, efficiencies in school spending, a year-round education calendar and school district re-zoning.
CBC recommends reforms to improve efficiencies in education spending to offset the additional spending required under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement.
CBC assesses the potential to increase gambling revenue in order to meet the requirements of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity settlement. CBC finds that aggressive pursuit of gambling revenues has the potential to generate $2 and $3 billion annually, but the State must consider its long-run sustainability, disproportionate impact on lower-income taxpayers, and social costs.
CBC conducted case studies of seven states (Kentucky, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, and Michigan) that have faced legal challenges to their public school financing systems. The analysis considers the following questions: 1) How long did it take and why? 2) How much did it cost, and where did the money come from? 3) What were the results in terms of finance outcomes?
CBC reviews revenue options to best pay for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity initiatives. CBC considers broadening the base of two taxes, sales and corporate income; raising rates on two existing statewide taxes, personal income and sales; and instituting a new statewide property tax.
The State of New York faces a major challenge stemming from a 2003 ruling by the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court, which found that the more than one million children in New York City’s public schools were not provided with the sound basic education guaranteed to them by the State Constitution.
The State of New York faces a major challenge stemming from a 2003 ruling by the Court of Appeals, the State’s highest court, which found that the more than one million children in New York City’s public schools were not provided with the sound basic education guaranteed to them by the State Constitution.
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