Link

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2005/11/22/texas_supreme_court_rules_property_tax_unconstitutional/

NO activist court there; no "judicial activism," no sirree bob!
I don't like property taxes used to fund education either.

I know there's a secessionist movement in Texas, but maybe it's time for the Feds to try something novel: Expulsion.  Congratulations Texas, you're now the Lone Star Republic of Tejas, good night, and good luck!



only if they agree to take their former govenor back...

I can see why the school districts sued. If every property owner is taxed at the same $1.50 per $100 of property value there has to be a wide gap between the poor communities and rich communities. The poor communities, which would have the lowest property value would be underfunded, at the same time I would think those in the rich communities would be overfunded. So, per Max, why not spread the funds around?
About two-thirds of my property tax goes toward funding the school, but I couldn't tell you how much goes to my schools district.

A few years ago the Vermont Supreme Court decided that school property tax rates had to generate the same # of $$$ for the local schools around the state, and therefore that property rich towns, like ski resort Killington, had to subsidize property poor communities like Bevlidier.  The legislature came up with a plan to do that, and then modified it a bit to relieve the "gold towns".  Killington still doesn't like it and has voted to leave Vermont and become part of New Hampshire.  Fat chance (Vermont would have to agree, as would Congress).

Personally, I think the property tax is very regressive, even in Vermont, and the funding of public education should be handled through a state income tax, with the proceeds allocated to school districts on a pre capita basis, allowing towns to tax themselves additionally to pay for extras, but only if a part of that "extra" goes into the general fund for school support.  Why should Killington be able to buy a first class system with a 50 cent/$100 tax rate and Belvidier struggle to maintain minimum standards with a $1.50/$100 rate?  What makes Killington's kids better than Belvidier's?