Lawrence group plans opposition to tax idea

A Lawrence coalition of public-education advocates will fight efforts to adopt a half-cent sales tax to generate cash for school districts serving Douglas County students.

Richard Heckler, coordinator of Schoolfunders, a group lobbying for more state funding for public education in Kansas, said it would be inappropriate to seek a city or county sales tax for schools.

“We’re doing what we can to obstruct that, but I don’t know how successful we can be,” he said.

The Lawrence school board unanimously endorsed exploration of a city or county sales tax, and will discuss the issue at a meeting this evening in district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive.

At a Sept. 10 gathering of elected officials on the school board, city and county commissions, it was decided to first seek a county sales tax for schools.

A half-cent county sales tax is capable of generating $5.8 million annually. Revenue would be divided among eight districts, based on enrollment of Douglas County residents. The measure could be on an election ballot in November 2004.

It would be patterned after a quarter-cent sales tax adopted in 2002 by Johnson County voters. That tax is expected to generate $45 million over three years for six public school districts in Johnson County.

Heckler said a sales tax for public schools would inappropriately relieve the Kansas Legislature of an obligation to properly finance the education of children in the state.

“Schoolfunders feels that city or county taxes for public education only undermines efforts to persuade our Legislature to provide the resources necessary for every child to make adequate yearly progress,” he said. “Let’s make Topeka do the right thing.”

Randy Weseman, superintendent of schools in Lawrence, said the Legislature has had many opportunities to “do what’s right” by authorizing proper financing of Kansas public schools.

“The Lawrence public schools no longer have the luxury of waiting for that action,” Weseman said.

The school board authorized millions of dollars in spending cuts and program reallocations in the past three years to balance its budget.

“I wouldn’t be doing my job as your superintendent if I allowed the high-quality educational system we have created in Lawrence to deteriorate through continued budget cuts,” Weseman said.

A countywide half-cent sales tax would generate an estimated $4.2 million for Lawrence schools, $553,000 for Baldwin schools and $506,000 for Eudora schools.

Approximately $659,000 would be split among West Franklin, Shawnee Heights, Santa Fe Trail, Perry-Lecompton and Wellsville districts.