Legislative Comment

Rep. Fagan reports on stance to keep LEA funding for schools

As I have traveled around the 9th Legislative District, one common theme I have heard from constituents, including education advocates, parents, teachers and school administrators is proposed reductions in levy equalization (LEA) funding in the state budget will impact the quality of education in our region.

As the assistant Republican leader on the House Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee, I have tirelessly reviewed how the governor’s proposed $152 million cut to LEA will impact our schools. In the 9th District, the picture is not pretty. The numbers bear out what most of us already know: cuts to LEA impact rural and property-poor school districts far more than urban, property-rich districts.

Levy equalization funding was set up to balance out, or equalize, education funding in the state so that no matter where a child attends school, he or she has an equal opportunity at success. Our part of the state, along with many other rural areas, will lose millions in LEA dollars under the governor’s budget proposal.

One of the reasons for the disparity in education funding between urban and rural parts of the state is housing density. Much of our local education funding comes from property tax collections from private land owners. In King County, for example, the majority of the region is full of apartment and condominium developments and high-value homes and land, as well as large business operations, such as Boeing and Microsoft. This type of property-rich density boosts local school funding because the property tax base is strong.

In contrast, rural areas of the state are, for the most part, sparsely populated and housing and economic development is lower in value and spread out among large areas. In addition, many Eastern Washington counties are largely owned by state, federal and tribal governments. There are some counties in Eastern Washington where more than 70 percent of the land is government owned. This limits economic development and tax collections.

The purpose of LEA is not to create a “rich versus poor” scenario, but rather to ensure that as the state makes decisions and places mandates on local school districts, every school is financially equipped to serve every child equally in the classroom.

To be sure, difficult decisions must be made in the 2012 legislative session. But I stand ready to fight for levy equalization funding. I firmly believe that budget writers must identify our most important programs and focus on an “all priorities” budget in the short, 60-day session. Instead of cutting core government services, such as education, public safety and services to the elderly and disabled, let’s fund them first, not hold them hostage to a tax increase.

The state auditor has offered millions of dollars in savings that could not only achieve enough savings to protect LEA, but also fill essential service needs the governor has suggested cutting.

Cuts to LEA funds for our rural school districts will hurt students and further exacerbate the school funding gap in Washington state. We can and should do better for our children.

Susan Fagan

9th District Representative