To the Editor:
I read the recent letter submitted by Robert K. "Skip" Bailey of Carrollton regarding school funding.  Mr. Bailey commented, "It's a mess.  No wonder State Representatives John Boccieri and Mark Okey say school funding doesn't need fixed, they don't know how to fix it."  This statement is not accurate.

State "Senator" John Boccieri and I have often stated that the majority party in control of the General Assembly thinks that school funding is fixed.  We disagree.  The current system needs changed and here is how I would change it.

In cooperation with Carroll County Auditor Leroy VanHorne I drafted the following proposals.

Make public education funding a separate line item in the state budget.

All money in the public education line item shall be used exclusively for funding public education in Ohio.  Funding for private charter schools and voucher programs would not be included in this line item.

Maintain current public education funding levels.

Create a state income tax for public schools.  Individual tax returns identify the school district within which the taxpayer resides.

The state shall collect all revenue from the income tax for public education and allocate it entirely to the public education line item in the budget.

The state shall identify all revenue from the income tax for public education attributable to individual school districts and shall report same to the appropriate county auditor.  The auditor shall convert same to millage and roll back real property taxes accordingly.

Eliminate the estate tax.

Establish an income threshold, below which no income tax for public education would be applicable.

Exempt all persons 65 years of age or older and or disabled from the income tax for public education.

Equitably distribute money in the public education line item to individual school districts based on a formula reflecting the per pupil cost of an adequate and efficient public education in Ohio .  Representative Steve Dyer has a proposal.

Allow individual school districts to seek additional funding through local property tax ballot initiatives.

Leroy and I met with Governor Strickland and his public school funding staff.  They asked good questions and were attentive throughout our presentation.

Governor Strickland is working on a plan to fix public school funding.  He hopes to introduce his plan in early 2009.  He would not reveal specifics to us.  Our point in meeting with the Governor was to make suggestions and to try to influence what goes into this plan.  Only the Governor can provide the leadership to push public school funding reform through the General Assembly.

I don't claim to have all the answers.  I want to open a dialogue with the Governor so that my ideas can be considered.  I hope all who read this letter will send me their thoughts and suggestions.  I will take them to the Governor.

I now hope everyone has a better understanding of my position on public school funding.

Mark D. Okey
State Representative
House District 61

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