Indiana

Franklin Township Follies

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

There’s nothing like taking taxpayer money, using it to sue taxpayers in order to get more of the taxpayers’ money.   And then again there is nothing like the Franklin Township School District.

It’s one thing to go to the taxpayers and ask them to give up some of their property tax relief so administrators can build more buildings.  But the District, along with Hamilton Southerastern,  has also decided to sue the state of Indiana over the school funding formula.

Officials say the funding formula is unfair because since they are the 29th largest school district they shouldn’t be 251st when it comes to state funding.   Of course this is the same school district that had no problem finding $4.3 million for a new football stadium a few years back.

The school funding formula is complicated stuff.   But basically it comes down to a couple things;  your student population and how many of them live in poverty.  You get more kids, you get more cash.  You have more poor kids, you get more cash.   So if Franklin Township wants to max out on state funding,  it should start taking in a lot more poor students.

That makes more sense than using the taxpayers’ money to sue the taxpayers so you can get more of the taxpayers’ money.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on August 27, 2009 (boomark / email).