Dear SEE Legislator:

Property tax relief will be an issue discussed thoroughly during the 2012 legislative session and there are a number of proposals that will warrant attention during this debate. Schools for Equity in Education (SEE)-a coalition of 61 low-property wealth school districts throughout the state-is poised to enter this debate.

One method to provide meaningful property tax relief is through an increase in the equalization factors for school-related levies. In the case of the referendum and debt service levies, neither of the equalization programs that provide property tax relief and create greater property tax fairness have been significantly adjusted upward since their establishment in 1991.

The failure to adjust the equalizing factors has had two effects.   The tax effort to raise locally-generated school revenue between high and low property wealth school districts has grown dramatically. This in turn has made it more difficult for low property wealth school districts to pass referendum levies, causing alarming disparities in funding between school districts.

Last session, Representative Linda Runbeck introduced HF 536, a bill that would adjust the referendum equalizing factor upward and index that factor so it would keep pace with changes in property wealth. Given the budget difficulties facing the state, it was impossible for that bill to receive considerable attention, as it required the expenditure of state dollars into tax relief. Now, with the state budget situation in better straits and rising property taxes becoming a greater concern, the time may be more suitable for its consideration.

There is currently no companion to HF 536 introduced in the Senate. I would urge our Senate legislators to consider chief authoring the legislation. The SEE member districts that you represent are unanimous in their support of this legislation.

For those of you who are House members, we certainly would support your advocacy of this bill in hopes of gaining a hearing before either the Education Finance Committee or the Property Tax Division of the House Tax Committee.

SEE staff stands ready to help you in however you choose to support this legislation. The organization believes this is a way in which the Legislature can provide meaningful property tax relief and help the state meet its constitutional obligation to maintaining a "general and uniform . . . thorough and efficient" system of public education.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. 

Thank you.

Brad Lundell

Executive Director

651-647-6251 Office

612-220-7459 Cell

www.schoolsforequity.org