THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010180
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
If you get what appears to be just another routine form from the school system in March, pay attention: It could affect your city property taxes.
The form is part of a census the state requires all Virginia school systems to conduct every three years. The census shows how many children of school age, between 4 and 19, reside in each locality.
The Chesapeake school system's share of the state sales tax will be determined by the number of kids who are counted this month.
The more kids, the more money the state gives city schools. And the less money Chesapeake taxpayers have to pay for education.
``It has a big impact upon every resident who has to pay taxes in this city,'' said Lenard J. Wright, the school system's program administrator for planning and development.
This fiscal year, the school system is getting $444 in state sales tax money per student. That's about $18 million all told, Wright said.
``That's another $18 million we don't have to come up with locally,'' said Wright, who lives in the city and feels strongly that taxpayers should take the census seriously.
The census costs the school system about $80,000 to conduct, Wright said.
Wright and his staff will send forms home this week with each student enrolled in city schools. Completed surveys should be returned to the schools by March 11.
Parents are asked to complete the simple, five-minute form with the names and birthdates of each of the school-age children who still reside in their homes, even those who attend preschools, private schools, boarding schools, trade schools or colleges. Even if the kids are in jail or a hospital.
Forms also will be mailed in late March to every household in the city, except those that are slated to get one from a school. A postage-paid, addressed envelope will be included. Citizens are asked to complete and return the forms as soon as possible.
Residents who receive forms but who don't have kids living at home should still sign and return them blank, so Wright will be able to check the household off his master list.
Households that don't reply will get a visit from a census-taker.
The information on the surveys is kept strictly confidential, Wright said. The state receives only a number, no names; the forms are kept on file for three years in case the state decides to audit the school system.
Wright estimates there are at least 40,000 school-age kids, probably more, in the city, although only about 35,000 are enrolled in public schools.
But he has to have the signed forms for proof, in order to collect money from the state.
``We're not doing this to irritate anyone,'' Wright said. ``Our purpose is to take full advantage of the state money available to us and to reduce the burden on local taxpayers, of whom I am one.'' MEMO: JUST THE FACTS
What is it? A survey of school-age children in Chesapeake. The state
requires local school districts to conduct the survey every three years.
What does it mean? The state decides how much sales tax revenue to
give school systems based upon the census figures. So the more
Chesapeake children accounted for in the census, the more state money
the school system gets. That lightens the burden on city taxpayers.
When will it happen? This month. Schools will send census forms home
Monday. Parents are asked to return the forms by March 11. All
Chesapeake households not receiving forms through the schools will get
them, plus postage-paid return envelopes, in the mail later in the
month. Return them as soon as possible.
What should I do? Fill out the form. List all children between the
ages of 4 and 19 whose legal residence is your home, even if they are
away at school or in private school. If you do not have any school-age
kids at home, sign the blank form and return it.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOLS STUDENTS CENSUS by CNB