In the 1990s, teachers' and other educators' salaries increased enough to make Georgia number one in salaries in the South and solidly in the Midwest across the nation. Since 2004, school districts have been trying to make do with much less as this recession continues to force more cuts. Georgia has a very high unemployment rate of 10.25%, a high…

Fully 40 percent ($5 billion) of Georgia's FY 2000 general funds budget is for K-12 education. There is increased funding for a homestead exemption, expansion of the HOPE (higher education) Scholarship Program, capital outlay projects, remedial assistance programs, and instruction of limited-English speaking students. (MLH)

Examines voter response to bond issues immediately following Michigan's elimination of its property tax school-funding system. Reviews equity measures, discusses court cases addressing school-facility equity issues, and compares other states' funding approaches. Michigan's system for financing school facilities remains inequitable, and facility…

After the Michigan Supreme Court ruled in favor of reimbursing 84 plaintiff school districts for special-education expenses, the governor vetoed parts of the $304.6 million State Aid Act, including $250,000 for at-risk programs. Three November 1997 bills restored at-risk and special-education funding while "freezing" the foundation allowance at…

Examines how varying wealth and varying certainty of wealth influences budgetary decision making in (Michigan) school districts. Despite differences in revenues, balance, implementation, and process, there was little variation in the way districts spent their money. Budget implementation is most affected by lack of wealth. Certainty of wealth is…