(Syndicated to Kansas newspapers June 27, 2016)
After a two-day special legislative session which adjourned in the dusk of Friday, we need to see just who won what, or at least who claims credit for what leading into the election season.
Did the Kansas Supreme Court win by using its power—essentially the threat to close schools—to force lawmakers to provide equal support for all school districts that have property tax-supported Local Option Budgets? Yes.
So, the court forced legislators to provide equal state support for school districts with those local option budgets by threatening to close schools. It cost about $38 million to provide that equal support and the majority of that money won’t be spent to hire teachers or buy textbooks or even purchase playground equipment, but will instead allow school districts to cut their property taxes for patrons or at least not increase them.
That’s not exactly like rescuing children from a burning barn, is it?