Slow Housing Market May Mean Less Funding for School Districts

A March 15, 2009 USA Today article reports that the national slow-down in the housing market is having an impact on schools across the country. As property values fall, so do the tax revenues that make up a significant portion of annual funding for many school districts. Administrators are having to find ways to stretch limited budgets, and are sometimes being forced to cut teaching positions, extra-curricular activities, and other programs. As families relocate in search of employment, those school districts with funding levels based on average daily enrollment are also feeling the impact of decreased enrollment. Although funding from the recently-passed economic stimulus plan may provide school districts with some relief, the extent to which those dollars will help is not yet clear.

The article is available at the USA Today Web site.