The funding a school gets is crucial in determining the amount of money a school can spend on food, staff, transportation, clubs, and other programs. It is because of the funding through taxes that allows much needed schools to form and grow in the first place. For example, according to the Issaquah School District, there is a new school expected to be opened in the fall of 2025 at the earliest and is going to be at the location of the former Providence Heights College. It is thanks to tax funds that more schools can and will exist.
According to the Washington Policy Center, “State records show that in total school districts take about $2 billion extra in property taxes.” With the amount of money that is used from property taxes to fund schools, there are mixed feelings among adults on how their property taxes should be used. Some people argue that relying on taxes can be a huge problem. According to NPR, “The problem with a school-funding system that relies so heavily on local property taxes is straightforward: Property values vary a lot from neighborhood to neighborhood, district to district. And with them, tax revenues.” Although I understand the problem of using taxes to fund schools, what some people do not realize is that this system of supporting schools through property taxes is fair for everyone since those with more money are taxed more than those that are not. According to Sapling, “Homeowners tend to be better off than renters, and owners of expensive homes usually have more funds at their disposal. Therefore, the value of a resident’s house acts as a simple and fairly accurate measure of her wealth.” People do not have to worry about paying as much as someone else if they do not have the money, and so, this is a great thing to consider when it comes to using property taxes to pay for schools.
Another commonly argued aspect of this topic is the distribution and use of property taxes for funding schools. According to EducationalWave, “Unequal distribution of resources can lead to varying educational opportunities. Schools in low-income areas may struggle to provide adequate resources, leading to lower-quality education. This can perpetuate socioeconomic divides, limiting the potential for students in underprivileged areas.” Providing equality in the school industry is a much-needed point that still has not been put into effect, so it makes sense why some people believe that they should not support an unbalanced distribution of funding. Although I agree with this statement, I still believe in the future of the education industry since there is still a chance for the industry to change as time progresses and ideas develop. EducationalWave adds, “Ensuring equitable resource allocation in education is a critical component of promoting fairness and equal opportunities for all students. By distributing resources fairly, schools can provide adequate support and opportunities for every student.”
When it comes to funding schools partly with property taxes, it leads to the question of how good of an idea that is. EducationalWave notes that although property taxes can be a stable source of revenue, it can be very unpredictable and unstable during terrible economic times, and this can lead to funding gaps in education. This cause for concern can lead to suspicion about the use of funding. Although I share this concern, there are many ways to combat such unpredictability which I am more than confident in. EducationalWave says, ““Ensuring stability in education budgets is crucial for providing a predictable framework for planning and resource allocation. Budget predictability allows educational institutions to effectively manage their financial resources and plan for the long term. This stability fosters an environment where educators can focus on delivering quality education without the uncertainties of fluctuating budgets.” Having methods to prevent such disasters from happening in the first place makes something once unstable into something balanced.
The most common argument against funding schools with taxes is the idea that is “I do not have any children, so I do not want to help fund schools.” It can seem unfair for those that do not have children to pay the same amount as a family with children that go to school. However, it is very important to realize that it does not matter if someone has a child or not. Instead, supporting schools is necessary to educate the future generations that will run and work in the world.
The future of humanity rests on the education of the younger generations. That education is funded by the people themselves with their taxes. Although funding through taxes can seem risky, unreliable, and unfair, they can be beneficial, stable, and adaptable over time. Helping fund schools through taxes will benefit the present educational industry and the future of the world.
