How Should We Pay For Schools?

Allentown properties could be targeted as
school district tries shifting tax burden
By Edward Sieger | The Express-Times

"The ASD approved a contract Thursday with a firm that will scour the city for more property taxes."

Taxing properties is a lousy way to fund education.

Properties bear no direct correlation regarding the number of school aged kids who reside in them.

Some are commercial.

Others may contain adults who not now or ever had children.



Ways We Should Fund Schools
Solution #1: Let's take a second look at how the income taxes are treated in regards to amounts allowed in deductions for dependant children. Why should a working childless or retired couple owning a home have to pay higher taxes, as a result of not being able to take income tax deductions then a neighbor next door who can?

We should be encouraging homeownership. Not discouraging it. Someone who owns property will take greater care and pride in it and the city where they live.

Someone may argue they don't want the federal government or state telling us how to run our local district. This doesn't have to be so. There's no reason why tax laws can't be changed so money is sent directly to districts by the number of dependent children claimed on these forms.

Solution #2: What about those who have children and have no income to be taxed? This is the situation already. Landlords collect HUD or whatever and have to pay tax on their properties. One solution is not tax the property owner and reduce the monthly rental benefits accordingly. In addition a school voucher type of program going towards the financing of school districts based on the number of kids. Perhaps require a work program before one receives government benefits to them for their children. Parents failing to meet the requirements would then have the money deducted from their own personal accounts, instead be paid directly to schools, food and clothing providers for their children only.

Solution #3: Rather then each school district negotiating healthcare contracts let's use a single statewide system. Union negotiators constantly argue parity concerns with what other districts are getting. Much could be said the same regarding pensions and salaries. Much of this could be set up by census indicators regarding actual costs of living standards in each area rather then who can hold out for the most amount of money and benefits.

Solution #4: Future retirements should be entirely funded by the employees themselves. The state has shortchanged them on their promises. Take the money now set aside, give it to new employees (and those who agree to it) to manage their own retirement funds entirely separate from either the state or union programs. This may not be a bad idea for the health insurance programs as well.

Solution #5: Start offering independent contractually based teaching and administrative positions rather then as employees of the district itself. I'm not too hot on privatization of our schools via charters, but why not individuals? They could bid against others for their teaching and administrative skills with school districts. This also offers some legal advantages to school districts as well. Why not think of future teachers and administrators as independent contractors (small business professionals)?

IN CONCLUSION
Our educational system and the funding of it is a mess. We need to come up with creative solutions thinking outside the box that is both more educationally competitive and more economical.

Anyone have thoughts they'd like to add to this?