The School Property Tax Reconsidered

Recent literature has defined school finance reform in terms of fairness to pupils and taxpayers. One major reform plan implemented in several states has been the Guaranteed Tax Base (G.T.B.): a plan designed to equalize the property tax bases of school districts. This paper analyzes tax equalization for school districts in terms of fairness to persons. Central cities are used as the illustrative case. Citing past research and his own findings, the author concludes that achievement of tax base equalization is fundamentally irrelevant to interpersonal equity. The author suggests a financing system that promotes equity among persons, relegating property tax equalization to a minor role.