8/3/2019 Rep Fagan Levy Equalization Op-Ed

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Protecting levy equalization funding is critical to student success

By Rep. Susan Fagan

As I have traveled around the 9th Legislative District, one common theme I have heard from constituents,

including education advocates, parents, teachers and school administrators, is proposed reductions in

levy equalization (LEA) funding in the state budget will impact the quality of education in our region.

As the assistant Republican leader on the House Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee, I

have tirelessly reviewed how the governors proposed $152 million cut to LEA will impact our schools. In

the 9th District, the picture is not pretty. The numbers bear out what most of us already know: cuts to

LEA impact rural and property-poor school districts far more than urban, property-rich districts.

Levy equalization funding was set up to balance out, or equalize, education funding in the state so that

no matter where a child attends school, he or she has an equal opportunity at success. Our part of the

state, along with many other rural areas, will lose millions in LEA dollars under the governors budget

proposal.

One of the reasons for the disparity in education funding between urban and rural parts of the state is

housing density. Much of our local education funding comes from property tax collections from private

land owners. In King County, for example, the majority of the region is full of apartment and

condominium developments and high-value homes and land, as well as large business operations, such

as Boeing and Microsoft. This type of property-rich density boosts local school funding because the

property tax base is strong.

In contrast, rural areas of the state are, for the most part, sparsely populated and housing and economic

development is lower in value and spread out among large areas. In addition, many Eastern Washington

counties are largely owned by state, federal and tribal governments. There are some counties in Eastern

Washington where more than 70 percent of the land is government owned. This limits economic

development and tax collections.

The purpose of LEA is not to create a rich versus poor scenario, but rather to ensure that as the state

makes decisions and places mandates on local school districts, every school is financially equipped to

serve every child equally in the classroom.

To be sure, difficult decisions must be made in the 2012 legislative session. But I stand ready to fight for

levy equalization funding. I firmly believe that budget writers must identify our most important

programs and focus on an all priorities budget in the short, 60-day session. Instead of cutting core

government services, such as education, public safety and services to the elderly and disabled, lets fund

them first not hold them hostage to a tax increase.

The state auditor has offered millions of dollars in savings that could not only achieve enough savings to

protect LEA, but also fill essential service needs the governor has suggested cutting.

8/3/2019 Rep Fagan Levy Equalization Op-Ed

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Lets get to the root of government spending and waste instead of hurting education. Cuts to LEA funds

for our rural school districts will hurt students and further exacerbate the school funding gap in

Washington state. We can and should do better for our children.

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Rep. Susan Fagan, R-Pullman, is the assistant ranking Republican on the House Education Appropriations

and Oversight Committee. She also serves on the House Education and Labor and Workforce

Development committees.