Explain to me why US public schools are paid for by property taxes.

[Texacon]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x63376

Bonobo  (1000+ posts)     

Thu Dec-23-10 08:01 PM
Original message

Explain to me why US public schools are paid for by property taxes.
 
I may be dumb, but I don't get, even in principle, why the education of our young people should be related in any way to the amount of money local govts. can bring in with property taxes.

Shouldn't all US students get the same amount of money for education irrespective of the value of the homes in their school district?

Is there ANY reason this makes sense?

Someone please help me try to understand because to me, it seems like one of the most F&*^#ed up things I ever heard.
 

I brought this over for a couple of the comments downthread.  They have hit on something important but don't know it.  You know the old; broken squirrel/blind clock analogy.

This first one is .... just a stingy person! 

Historic NY  (1000+ posts)     

Thu Dec-23-10 08:10 PM
Response to Original message

5. Good question because I don't have kids & pay dearly....
 
Edited on Thu Dec-23-10 08:11 PM by Historic NY

school taxes should not be based on the property you own but whether you have children in the system.

Here's where they have hit on something but don't know it .....

Historic NY  (1000+ posts)     

Thu Dec-23-10 08:40 PM
Response to Reply #19

31. Really come to NY for taxes.....its driving folks down south ...  
Edited on Thu Dec-23-10 08:46 PM by Historic NY

my school taxes are 2 times my local & county taxes. We also have a ****ing lottery system that doesn't seem to do much. School districts are always slopping at the trough for more money beyond what they already get from us in the school tax bill. That money comes from............where state taxes. I guarantee I pay more then you do.

customerserviceguy  (1000+ posts)     

Thu Dec-23-10 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #31

42. You're right about the tax system driving people down south  

I work in NJ, and quite a few of the people I talk to who are closing their accounts because of a move are giving me final bill addresses in Florida or the Carolinas.

This "refunding" system seems to be somewhat inefficient, as well. You can't give an extra $1,000 to a taxing district, and then get a full thousand back, something has to get eaten up in the costs of processing

Anyway .... interesting thread. 

KC

[Carl]

Was reading through that earlier and what is unspoken but the basis for the thing is that DUmmies don`t want to pay tax for anything.

[GOBUCKS]

They speak the teachers' union language that equates learning with the number of dollars spent on it. I say you could pay Ann2BDUmb and the chromosomally-challenged Pam a half-million each, and their students would still be dunces. You could triple the huge sums already spent on educating the tribes of D.C., and they'd still be rhyming hip-hop without a clue about grammar or long division.

[olde north church]

I have my own ideas about how to pay for schools and it would reduce property taxes to zero, while allowing us to efficiently compete with the Chinese and other low wage nations.

[Texacon]

I have my own ideas about how to pay for schools and it would reduce property taxes to zero, while allowing us to efficiently compete with the Chinese and other low wage nations.

Do Tell.

KC

[Ballygrl]

Part of my Counties property taxes are siphoned off and sent to "low income" counties like Essex to make it "fair".

[jukin]

I cannot think of a single instance where parasitic unions help the host company stay in business, much less help it thrive.

[true_blood]

Mmmmmm,.....leaving New York and New Jersey and moving south? Sat it ain't so.

[olde north church]

Do Tell.

KC

Well, the curriculum plan may describe it as arts and crafts but we know that's just a fancy name for "costume jewelry assembly".  We'll define Home Ec as seamstress, metal shop and wood shop as fabrication.  Getting my drift? 

[Randy]

My folks used to live in Boca Raton. Dad always referred to the NY & NJ transplants as retired NYC muggers. They had that nasty attitude of entitlement and I'm better so you'd best recognize.  

[JohnnyReb]

My folks used to live in Boca Raton. Dad always referred to the NY & NJ transplants as retired NYC muggers. They had that nasty attitude of entitlement and I'm better so you'd best recognize.  

I know what you're talking about. Just get right up in their face and curse them out real good....they're all p*ssies and try to intimidate you but it's all a big bluff.

Because southerners are laid back and easy going they think we're all stupid. Oh the stories I could tell you about DUmb yankees.

[Texacon]

Well, the curriculum plan may describe it as arts and crafts but we know that's just a fancy name for "costume jewelry assembly".  We'll define Home Ec as seamstress, metal shop and wood shop as fabrication.  Getting my drift? 

 

KC

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Bonobo  (1000+ posts)     

...

Shouldn't all US students get the same amount of money for education irrespective of the value of the homes in their school district?

*cough*vouchers*cough*

[GOBUCKS]

Bonobo  (1000+ posts)     
Shouldn't all US students get the same amount of money for education irrespective of the value of the homes in their school district?

I think DUmmy Bonobo is on to something here. The homes in blue state urban hellholes are worth virtually nothing, but taxpayers spend far, far more per "student" on schools for future felons and baby mamas than in civilized areas. How is that working out?

[Carl]

You all are still missing why the primitive posted this.

Bonobo  (1000+ posts)        Thu Dec-23-10 08:14 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. Yes, they return the value to the entire nation.
   But not necessarily to the area they came from?

I am not arguing AGAINST education being paid for. I am arguing FOR the amount of money going to kids' education being equal and the burden being carried by the entire country equally for all kids.

Am I just a commie pinko socialist?

In other words,get rid of MY property tax and tax someone else instead to pay for it.

[Randy]

Oh yeah, back to the question in the OP. Most likely it's because the vast majority of the population besides Bobo and her ilk, all enjoy living indoors. Hence a property tax everyone gets to pay one way or the other for the privilege of life under a roof.

[thundley4]

I remember when they started the state lottery here in Illinois.  100% of the profits were to go to schools.  Of course, they just removed some of the money that had been going to schools from general funds to other Demonrat wish lists, and kept the school funding at their current rates.

[Randy]

I remember when they started the state lottery here in Illinois.  100% of the profits were to go to schools.  Of course, they just removed some of the money that had been going to schools from general funds to other Demonrat wish lists, and kept the school funding at their current rates.

Yep thats the same wad of bullshit they plopped on us here in Florida to get the poor tax passed. They went a step farther and swore it was going to increase funding to schools over and above the state contribution which would never go down.

[Chris_]

The money for our state lotto goes to higher education grants.  Never mind that half the people using the money never graduate or can't meet any of the academic requirements.