A commission tasked with improving the efficiency of Kansas’ public schools is talking about studying the state payments that districts receive to help finance construction and infrastructure projects.
The K-12 Student Performance and Efficiency Commission discussed Thursday the so-called “equalization” payments that are handed out based on districts’ property tax base. Not all districts qualify for the payments that are used to pay for bonds and interest. But those that do can have the state pay up to 83 percent of their costs, depending on the districts’ wealth.
Commissioners noted that there is no limit to how much the state can be asked to chip in. Commission chairman Sam Williams suggested that there should be a review process.
Commissioners could authorize a study as soon as Friday.
