Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Tracking Virginia’s General Assembly
since 2007.
HB1048: Education; computation of composite index.
Chief Patron
Del.
Vivian Watts (D-39)
Vivian Watts
(D-39)
Annandale, VA
Served: 1996–
Progress
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Introduced |
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Passed Committee |
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Passed House |
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Passed Senate |
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Signed by Governor |
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Became Law |
Status
02/12/2008: Failed to Pass in Committee
Summary
Education; computation of composite index. Codifies the current Standards of Quality (SOQ) funding formula and calculation of composite index of local ability-to-pay, and modifies the formula that determines each locality's ability to pay for its share of providing an educational program meeting the prescribed SOQ to (i) incorporate tax values and population estimates for the fiscal year ending one year prior to the fiscal biennium in which the distribution takes place; (ii) provide for a population density adjustment in certain localities; and (iii) incorporate median, rather than average, adjusted gross income. This measure reflects certain recommendations included in the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) Review on Elementary and Secondary School Funding (February 2002).
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Votes were cast on this bill on the following dates for which Richmond Sunlight has video: 01/09/2008, 01/09/2008 and 02/12/2008.
Poll Results
1 vote
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Bill Text
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Comments
Median Income does not accurately reflect the wealth of a locality as those poorer communities with a high percentage on non-filers would lose funding under this legislation.
"This measure reflects certain recommendations included in the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) Review on Elementary and Secondary School Funding (February 2002)."
If Median Income is a wrong measure, then let's find a right measure. The SOQs are broke. There are two big problems. First the list of recipient localities is ridiculous as more than a few are clearly well off compared to other counties and should not be receiving assistance.
Second, we have counties that are reducing their tax rates as SOQ funding goes up - and this is being done at the expense of the donor jurisdictions.
The SOQs need to require equitable matching funds from the locality or lets put this another way, we need to NOT have a formula that rewards localities cutting back on their share; in effect increasing their subsidies from the donor jurisdictions AND, in some places actually undermining the intent of the SOQs and ultimately a disservice to their kids especially in areas that have lost their local industries and their kids will need a solid education to compete for a world economy job.