Should Arkansas Schools with More Money Give to Those with Less?
By: Christa Spencer, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville
Updated: December 11, 2012
A ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court against a school tax amendment is creating some controversy.
It's a complicated case, but a simple concept: should school districts with more money be forced to share with those who have less?
The state's highest court says no, and now, the Attorney General's office has sent someone to brief lawmakers in hopes the Supreme Court will reconsider the decision.
In 1996, Arkansas voters passed a property tax for schools, but the court says the "school tax" amendment doesn't let the state take money from districts who have more and give it to others who have less.
Some lawmakers say the state should accept the court's ruling. "The reality is, the governor needs to accept, he was part of writing the decision, he needs to abide by the rules he wrote," says State Senator-elect Bryan King of Green Forest.
King also says people need to hear both sides of the story. For example, the Eureka Springs district is building a new $11 million dollar high school without any money from the state.
Click here to watch this report.
It's a complicated case, but a simple concept: should school districts with more money be forced to share with those who have less?
The state's highest court says no, and now, the Attorney General's office has sent someone to brief lawmakers in hopes the Supreme Court will reconsider the decision.
In 1996, Arkansas voters passed a property tax for schools, but the court says the "school tax" amendment doesn't let the state take money from districts who have more and give it to others who have less.
Some lawmakers say the state should accept the court's ruling. "The reality is, the governor needs to accept, he was part of writing the decision, he needs to abide by the rules he wrote," says State Senator-elect Bryan King of Green Forest.
King also says people need to hear both sides of the story. For example, the Eureka Springs district is building a new $11 million dollar high school without any money from the state.
Click here to watch this report.
