Generally, an increase in the uniform levy and the foundation percentage increases property tax equity. An increase to the regular program foundation percentage would not change the amount raised by the uniform levy but would increase the amount of state foundation aid received by school districts and reduce the amount of additional property tax levy imposed. The impact of the change on the additional levy will generally be more beneficial to a district with lower property tax values. Simply, it takes a larger tax levy rate to raise the same amount of funding for a lower valuation district. An increase in the uniform levy would affect property tax poor and rich taxpayers equally.
All taxpayers pay the same levy rate.
A majority of the districts current apply to the School Budget Review Committee for additional property tax to support their TAG program. By incorporation TAG funding into the school aid funding formula, you strengthen the program and replace the programs significant reliance on property taxes. The weights are calculated to generate sufficient funds to cover the excess cost of special education. A special education deficit occurs when the cost of a school district's special education curriculum is not fully covered through the current formula. To fund the deficit, school districts can apply for additional property tax through the School Budget Review Committee.