Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 21, 1992 TAG: 9201210213
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
DISPARITY BATTLE RENEWED
A pair of rural legislators put their House colleagues on notice Monday that they intend to fight for more money for rural and underfinanced school districts, even if it means higher taxes."As we sit comfortable at our desks, there are children born in our state who will never get the education we believe all are entitled to," said Del. Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville.
Half the students in Carroll County never get past the ninth grade, Jackson said. "Sixty-six percent never get the thrill of walking across the stage and getting a high school diploma. And only 5 percent go on to get a [college] degree.
"We are creating two classes of students in Virginia - those who will be the governors and the leaders and the others who will be the workers," said Del. Ford Quillen, D-Gate City.
Quillen said after the House floor session that he will submit a bill today to raise the sales tax by one-half-cent, or 5 cents on the dollar. The resulting $230 million per year in revenue, he said, would be funneled to poorer school districts.
Quillen said he also will propose that a portion of state lottery profits go to school districts for construction and operating expenses, a measure that he said will further aid school systems in financially stressed areas.
Most of the state's rural school systems filed suit against the state last year because of the disparity between aid to their systems and to wealthier, suburban districts. The case was withdrawn when state officials tried to push a quick trial, but school officials have said it could be refiled.
A Wilder administration proposal disclosed last week includes a long-term plan to ease disparities. But the governor's 1992-94 budget includes no money for the major changes outlined in a six-year plan.
The issue, however, may force either a showdown or a hard-fought compromise between lawmakers from various regions. Northern Virginia legislators, in particular, have voiced concerns that shifting money to the poorer districts may mean a loss for their systems.
"We want to stand with you," said Del. David Brickley, D-Woodbridge. "But we've got to ensure we don't take a hit for doing that."
Brickley asked that poorer localities ante up by making at least a "minimum contribution" to schools by raising their real estate tax rates.
"We've made a commitment to our schools," Brickley said. "That's why we have the highest tax rates in the state."
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NOTE: SHORTER VERSION RAN IN THE METRO EDITION.
***CORRECTION***
PUBLISHED CORRECTION RAN ON JANUARY 22, 1992.
CLARIFICATION
IN A STORY IN TUESDAY'S PAPER, DEL. TOM JACKSON, D-HILLSVILLE, WAS QUOTED AS REVEALING SEVERAL STATISTICS ABOUT CARROLL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT AND GRADUATION RATES IN A SPEECH TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. ACTUALLY, JACKSON'S SPEECH SAID THAT THE FIGURES WERE AN AVERAGE OF EIGHT SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES, INCLUDING CARROLL; JACKSON SAYS THE FIGURES FOR CARROLL COUNTY ITSELF ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR THE EIGHT COUNTIES. ALSO, JACKSON'S SPEECH NOTE THAT THE FIGURES HE WAS QUOTING WERE OBTAINED FROM THE 1980 CENSUS AND WERE FOR ADULTS OVER 25. CURRENT DROPOUT AND GRADUATION RATES FOR TEEN-AGERS ARE GENERALLY MUCH BETTER.
ALSO, THE SAME STORY WAS UNCLEAR IN EXPLAINING A PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE STATE SALES TAX. DEL. FORD QUILLEN SAID HE WOULD SUBMIT A BILL TO INCREASE THE TAX BY ONE-HALF CENT, TO 5 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, TO RAISE MORE MONEY FOR EDUCATION.
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Memo: CORRECTION