It is often suggested that measuring local fiscal ability by full valuation of property per public school pupil is inaccurate and inequitable. One substitute measure proposed is district income per pupil or a combination of district income and property value per pupil. However, using this measure would result in a rise in the aid ratios in only six areas in New York State. One other reason to oppose the use of income in measuring fiscal ability is that it does not actually reflect how much tax money is available for schools. Money available for schools depends on property values, not income. Also, in New York, property taxes are used for police and fire protection, street repairs, maintenance, and other activities besides education. In urban areas, these other local needs are greater than in rural areas and thus less money is available for schools. A more equitable measure of fiscal ability might be property value per capita rather than per public school pupil. If total population by school district is not available, total public and nonpublic school enrollment can be substituted since studies have shown this to have a high correlation with total population. (Author/JM)