Talking points from Warwick school tax symposium

Change. Reform. Accountability.These were the terms heard most throughout the discussions. Warwick — Two weeks ago, state legislators and some hoping to win election next week came to Warwick for a school tax summit, hosted by the Board of Education. The purpose was to get a dialogue started on alternatives to school funding. At the end of the day, after a question and answer session with the candidates, community residents, elected officials and those running for office went into focus groups to brainstorm. What follows are the main topics discussed in the groups. Funding Not surprisingly, the majority of suggestions had to do with alternative funding of the education system. Many said there should be a shift away from property taxes in an effort to make education funding more equitable. End the war between property owners and school boards was one statement. Several suggested an income tax to cover the cost of education. One said a progressive state income tax could possibly eliminate property tax funding or at least reduce it to a minimal level. While many want to shift the burden, some want to spread it around. Tax cars. Tax online gambling. Renters should pay an income tax in order to level out the playing field and condo owners should pay a more equitable share of education expenses. One group even suggested that people with more children in the school system should pay more money toward that education. One said to cut down the lottery prizes and feed the money into educational funding. Many participants in several of the groups said the contribution levels are skewed. With local taxpayers contributing $50 million and the state $20 million, one group suggested the state should be obliged to provide education. Even with greater state contribution, most felt that the controls should remain with the local districts. The federal government should pump money back into the districts, according to one group. “Stop bleeding at the federal level to pass funding down.” Some suggested the burden should be mostly on the state instead of the local districts. Said one participant: “New York State should fund a certain level (of education) and then let the community decide how to fund additional programs, using property tax and/or other tools.” Warwick’s soon-to-be-voted-on real estate transfer tax was even suggested as a way to reduce school costs. Reassessment was even suggested. One theme that went through most of the groups was that state and federal mandates should be fully funded. One group suggested that Warwick’s state senator and assemblywoman should put mandates on the floor for a vote in Albany. Making demands on individual districts without funding them is just unfair. “State should be fully responsible for their mandates,” according to one group. Full funding of testing with local controls was the suggestion of another group. Consolidation With more than 700 school districts throughout the state and three in the town of Warwick, one suggestion from the focus groups was to consolidate districts and expenses. “Districts should be consolidated to county basis,” said one group. Eliminate BOCES. Another saw things just the opposite. “School consolidation is political suicide,” they said. New York law says you cannot change school districts or consolidate them unless they are contiguous, according to one group. There would probably be a savings but transportation costs would also go up. With consolidation, one group suggested that teachers’ contracts be decided by zones or counties, instead of individual school districts. Special Education and extracurricular activities Some groups lumped special education and extracurricular activities together. One suggested that the state fund all special education services that are provided outside of the home district. Special Education aid should go up, said another group. Lobby the federal government to fully fund Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). One group said special education aid should go up. Another said districts should cap special education expenditures. While some groups said there should be more funding for extracurricular activities, another said districts should spread the cost of sports by charging “pay to play” fees. Sports cost about $97 per student per year, according to one group. This cost should be off-set with fundraising, they suggested. Another group said that eliminating the athletic budget “would not have significant impact” on budgets. Music and arts should be given the same amount of funding as sports, said one group. “Our FFA (Future Farmers of America) program in Warwick High is highly successful. We must not sacrifice our successful programs,” said another. Overall, most agreed it will be tough to change the existing system, but that lawmakers and citizens should work hard for reform. The summit was a good step — continue forums in Orange County, said one group. Provide education to taxpayers about mandated programs and discretionary spending, said another. One group recommended a state takeover of education with five years. Several said the aid formula and distribution should be changed.