By Gene Meyer/KansasReporter

TOPEKA, Kan. – More than eight in 10 Kansans oppose higher taxes for schools following a five-year, 26 percent increase in per-pupil aid, according to a new statewide survey released today.

The finding, in a survey conducted by The Research Partnership of Wichita on behalf of KansasReporter, is significant because the levels are baselines for recalculation of state aid under the Montoy decision and for budget decisions facing the state legislature later this month.

The poll also found that fewer than one Kansan in 10 has a clear idea how much money schools actually receive – or spend – to educate elementary, middle and high school students across the state:

–Schools receive far more money than most Kansans realize. Kansas schools currently receive $6,292 per pupil in state aid, and a total $12,225 per pupil when federal and local help are added in, according to Kansas State Department of Education figures. Nearly two in three Kansans surveyed, or 65 percent, however, believed the totals were below $4,000 and $8,000 respectively. Only 6 percent or fewer knew the totals were above $6,000 and $12,000.

–More than six in 10 Kansans surveyed, or 64 percent, also believe that state school aid levels have remained unchanged or fallen in the last five years. Approximately the same number, 63 percent, believe that is true of all school aid as well. Again, only 6 percent for fewer knew, accurately, that aid is up more than 15 percent for both categories.

–Parents of school children have greater misperceptions about school financing than those without children in school. Nearly three in four estimated state and total school aid levels were only about two-thirds of actual Kansas totals. Only about 8 percent of school children’s parents, compared to 10 percent of other respondents, knew accurately that elementary, middle and high school funding makes up slightly more than half Kansas’ annual budget each year.

Kansans’ willingness to pony up more tax money for higher school funding also varies with their perception of presumed funding gaps, the survey found.

About 51 percent of the responders to the poll indicated they would be personally willing to pay higher taxes for schools if aid were lower than five years ago, compared to 41 percent who said they weren’t and 8 percent who didn’t know.

But that total shrinks to 44 percent yes, 49 percent no and 8 percent undecided if school aid were about the same as then. And the balance shifts to 77 percent against higher taxes, compared to 16 percent willing to pay them if current funding were 10 percent to 20 percent higher than in 2005. With a larger than 20 percent increase, sentiment shifts further, to more than 81 percent opposing tax increases, more than 11 percent willing to pay them and more than 7 percent undecided.

The survey also uncovered some regional differences among respondents. More eastern Kansas and Kansas City area residents than the statewide average believed school aid has been cut from the levels that prevailed five years ago and would be willing to pay higher taxes if total aid were down or about the same as then. Wichita area respondents, in contrast, were less willing to pay any additional taxes, even if spending is down, the poll showed.

The poll is based on telephone interviews between March 8 and March 27 of 600 Kansans age 25 or older by The Research Partnership in Wichita and has a potential margin of error of 4.1 percent. The interviewed Kansans were registered voters, residents of the state for at least one year, and not employed by a school district, the Kansas State Department of Education, or a state legislator.