Steve Rose in his “Memo” this week, Teachers, programs slashed. Thanks, Ray,  needs more hard facts and figures instead of fear mongering about “slashing” school budgets.

Rose attacks House Republican Majority Leader Ray Merrick:

Merrick wants to take schools back to the dark ages, and he is getting us there in a hurry.  …

Ray Merrick knows this. Why does he deliberately distort?

Where does Rose cite any figure to back up his claim that “Merrick wants to take schools back to the dark ages”?

Let’s look at some facts.

Let’s look at how total K-12 school aid per pupil (State, Federal, Local) has changed in the last five years (2005-2010) in Johnson County:

Johnson County School District	Change in Total Aid Per Pupil 2005-2010	Current 2010 Total Aid Greater than Aid in Year
Blue Valley USD 229	+23.4%	2007
Spring Hill USD 230	-8.6%	Before 2005
Gardner-Edgerton USD 231	+21.7%	2006
De Soto USD 232	+11.4%	2007
Olathe USD 233	+18.1%	2006
Shawnee Mission USD 512	+33.6%	2008

There is a downturn in the Spring Hill district, but all of the larger Johnson County school districts have had recent increases in their total per pupil aid.

With current funding at or above funding from just a few years ago (with the exception of Spring Hill), is Rose claiming Johnson County schools were in the “dark ages” just a few years ago?

For a list of such figures for all school districts in Kansas, look for the table in this article:  Does “Suitable” Education Require New 1% Sales Tax?

Does Rose credit Merrick for his concerns about businesses leaving the Kansas because of higher taxes? 

What about the local QuikTrip store that literally moved 100 feet to Missouri to avoid Kansas taxes and regulations? 

Near the end of the video below, there is a short segment showing part of a statement by Kansas House Majority Leader Ray Merrick. 

Merrick commented that the QuikTrip store could save a $1 million by leaving Kansas. “That’s unbelievable,” he said, and then asked, “How many other businesses do we have along the state line that will do the same thing?” Merrick explained that “we have to make the taxing policy of the state want people to come here.”

Kansas store moves 100 feet to Missouri to avoid taxes, regulations

How will Gov. Mark Parkinson‘s recent call for another 1% sales tax for schools help local businesses?

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Contact: Earl F Glynn, earl@kansaswatchdog.org, KansasWatchdog.org