Kansas House To Vote On Revising School Finance Formula

The Kansas House is considering an education funding bill that’s known as “Johnson County candy.”

The measure revises the state’s school finance laws to give Kansas’ 293 local school districts more authority to raise property taxes to supplement the state aid they receive. House leaders expected final action on the bill Monday.

The bill’s nickname is used even by supporters and arises from the backing it has from Johnson County legislators.

Their schools in mostly affluent Kansas City-area suburbs tend to fare less well in getting state aid because the law provides extra dollars for poor and at-risk students.

Many rural legislators oppose the change because their districts have less property wealth and couldn’t raise as much from property taxes.