Senate: Change School Funding Formula

By Trish Anderton on Friday, June 8, 2001.

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Senate Republicans say the state should pay for teachers, books, and special education, while local districts cover transportation, maintenance and other costs.

THE MEASURE SPONSORED BY BRISTOL REPUBLICAN NED GORDON WOULD THROW OUT THE COMPLEX FORMULA NOW IN PLACE AND SUBSTITUTE WHAT?S CALLED A MARKET-BASKET APPROACH, UNDER WHICH THE STATE PAYS FOR SOME ASPECTS OF EDUCATION AND TOWNS PAY FOR OTHERS. IN THIS CASE, THE STATE WOULD PAY FOR INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS, SUCH AS TEACHER SALARIES AND TEXTBOOKS, AND TOWNS WOULD PAY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS LIKE MAINTENANCE AND TRANSPORTATION. GORDON ARGUED THE CURRENT FORMULA, WHICH IS DERIVED BY LOOKING AT THE SPENDING HABITS OF GOOD, LOW-COST SCHOOLS, IS SIMPLY TOO COMPLICATED FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE TO GRASP.

I have a growing concern that the reason we?re having so much trouble funding education in the legislature is that people are disconnected from the way we spend the money. I don?t think the people in the ststae wd have any trouble funding ed if they knew exactly what they were paying for.

GORDON ARGUED HIS PLAN WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO TARGET AID TO STRUGGLING SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SOMETHING MANY IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD LIKE TO DO. IT WOULD ALSO LOWER THE STATEWIDE PROPERTY TAX BY TWO DOLLARS. REPUBLICAN JANE O?HEARN OF NASHUA SAID IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE STATE TO PAY FOR THE CENTRAL MISSION OF SCHOOLS ? THE TEACHING ? AND GIVE LOCAL VOTERS CONTROL OVER LESSER ISSUES.

It is the instruction in math and science and reading. Those are the pieces we feel are the most important piece.

BUT DEMOCRATS INSISTED THE BILL SENSELESSLY LEFT OUT KEY ELEMENTS OF AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION. THE BILL PASSED ON A PARTISAN VOTE. THEN DEMOCRATS INTRODUCED A SERIES OF TEN AMENDMENTS TO ADD TO THE LIST OF ITEMS THE STATE WOULD PAY FOR. EACH AMENDMENT PREDICTABLY WENT DOWN TO FAILURE. BUT NOT BEFORE DEMOCRATS GOT TO VENT THEIR ANGER. HAMPTON DEMOCRAT BEVERLY HOLLINGWORTH.

What school do you know that can exist w/o heat? That can exist w/o a principal? What school do you know that can exist today without a guidance counselor? None.

DEMOCRATS POINTED OUT THE BILL CUT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN STATE SPENDING. THEY ARGUED TOWNS WOULD HAVE TO RAISE THEIR LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, LARGELY WIPING OUT THE REDUCTION IN THE STATE PROPERTY TAX. THEY ALSO COMPLAINED THE MAJORITY PARTY WAS TRYING TO MUSCLE THE BILL PAST THEM. NASHUA DEMOCRAT DEBORAH PIGNATELLI.

I conside this a republican partisan bill. There was no effort by the slim majority to include democrats in this heretofore secret bill.

REPUBLICANS INSISTED THE IDEAS IN THE BILL HAD BEEN DISCUSSED MANY TIMES IN MANY FORMS. AND THEY ACCUSED THE DEMOCRATS OF WANTING THE STATE TO PAY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SCHOOLS? COSTS, A CHARGE THE MINORITY PARTY DENIED. AFTER A LONG AND CONTENTIOUS DAY, THE SENATE SENT THE BILL UNAMENDED TO THE HOUSE, WHERE IT FACES AN UNCERTAIN FATE. HOUSE REPUBLICANS MAY NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT THE MEASURE ADDS 64-MILLION DOLLARS TO THE STATE?S GROWING BUDGET DEFICIT. IN ADDITION, THE COALITION OF SCHOOLS THAT ORIGINALLY SUED THE STATE OVER EDUCATION FUNDING HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL GO BACK TO COURT IF THE PLAN BECOMES LAW. ONE UNEXPECTED RESULT OF THE DAY?S BATTLES WAS THAT SEVERAL TIMES, RANCOR GAVE WAY TO A CONSTRUCTIVE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS. A SURPRISED NED GORDON SAID IT WAS THE BEST DEBATE THE LEGISLATURE HAD HAD ON WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THAT DEBATE WILL SOMEDAY YIELD A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M