Kansas Board Of Education Skeptical On Gov. Funding Plan

A top aide to Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has
tried to reassure the State Board of Education that a school
finance plan now in development won’t cut funding further or harm
poor districts.
But board members expressed skepticism Tuesday after Brownback
policy director Landon Fulmer discussed the outlines of the plan
being drafted by the administration.
The plan will overhaul the distribution of $3 billion in aid to
local school districts.
Fulmer said the plan will allow counties to increase their sales
taxes to fund schools. It also will eliminate a state-imposed cap
on local school property taxes.
But several board members expressed doubts that poor districts
will be able to raise enough money through property and sales taxes
to supplement state funds.