AC-T: Interest renewed in Buncombe schools tax

Here’s an excerpt from the Asheville Citizen-Times article:

For decades, property owners living in the Asheville City Schools district have paid an extra tax to benefit city schools.

The tax — expected to generate about $8 million in the upcoming year — has helped lower class sizes, increase course offerings and funded art and music programs.

Lately, there’s been interest in a supplemental tax for the much larger Buncombe County school system, which lags behind city schools when it comes to per pupil spending. Including child nutrition funding, Asheville City Schools rank ninth in per pupil spending in North Carolina, while Buncombe County schools rank 79th out of 115 systems. …

The discussion about the supplemental tax has emerged amid shrinking state budgets and debate over how to fund public education. But it’s not a new idea. Over the years, school supporters tried unsuccessfully several times to convince Buncombe County voters to approve a school tax.

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About Jake Frankel
Jake Frankel is an award-winning journalist who enjoys covering a wide range of topics, from politics and government to business, education and entertainment.

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