Coupled with other educational reforms, like Governor Ridge s voucher plan, Wally s Folly could cut homeowners school tax burden in the state by half. However relief for homeowners wasn t Nunn s target. His concerns run to the kids in Pennsylvania who get educated by how much their district can afford, minus the mandates and eliminating the digressive elements of politically motivated property assessments. And he s right. While the educational establishment tries to convince taxpayers that housing values are linked to the quality of education the turn of the circle is true.
Folly levels the playing field.
Those who use the schools, wage earners with kids, pay the most. Those that don t, especially our senior citizens, get a break and those who need it, the school kids in disadvantaged areas get the chance that they deserve. But with the state setting the stage for a solid stipend that is equal for every one of the 1.8 million public school students in the state the notion that wealthy suburban kids get an education while poor urban kids get tendered in schools diminishes. Someday under Nunn s system every kid could get at least half a fiscal chance at an education. The devil of course is in the details.