Clark: School levy votes point to need for better state supportSenate Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark said today that there are messages from the results of 99 school levy referenda in Minnesota on Tuesday.
“Property taxpayers are overburdened with requests to cover the gaps created by Gov. Tim Pawlenty,” said Clark. “Those gaps are the result of policies that shift more and more of the cost of government from wealthy people to the middle class.”
“For many districts, the top levy questions involved asking property taxpayers to make up for the funding that ought to be coming from state government,” said Clark. “That shouldn’t be the case. Every school district ought to expect enough funding from state government to pay for public education – after all, it’s in our state constitution.”
According to the Minnesota Constitution, state government “… shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state.” Clark says that constitutional requirement isn’t being met. “Nearly 100 school districts asking taxpayers to make up for state government’s neglect is proof that isn’t happening. In years past, school funding was there, and referenda questions dealt with construction of new buildings and enhancements. Now they’re asking for enough money just to hang on.”
“Property taxpayers are at their limit. They support public education – but it’s increasingly difficult to pay for schools through a tax that isn’t based on the ability to pay. It’s time for Gov. Pawlenty to end the march to mediocrity and properly fund our schools through a fairer system of taxation.”
