Rep. Lance Kinzer has introduced legislation (HB 2798) which would allow local school boards to apply for Board of Tax Appeals authorization to raise additional funds to defray costs associated with the opening of new early childhood learning centers. Under current law local school districts can request such funding when a new school is built, but not for other facilities.
Commenting of the introduction of HB 2798, Olathe School Board member Jim Churchman stated, “I think Rep. Kinzer’s bill would be extremely helpful to the Olathe School district. As we continue to look for better ways to meet the educational needs of our children, including our growing population of children requiring heightened focus at the early development stage, this bill would provide our district with the opportunity to seek much needed assistance while also enhancing our ability for increased local control.”
Rep. Kinzer indicated that the focus of the bill is to allow local boards of education the flexibility to seek funds for any facility that contributed to the overall objectives of K-12 education. In particular Rep. Kinzer noted, “Our school district continues to grow at an extraordinary rate. The construction of new facilities is a natural part of dealing responsibly with that growth. Kansas law recognizes that such growth brings with it inherent financial costs that justify the expenditure of additional start up funds. Making these funds potentially available for all buildings that serve a legitimate educational purpose seems only fair.”
Under Rep. Kinzer’s proposal a local school district could only expend additional funds upon a showing to the State Board of Tax Appeals that such amount is not greater than the actual amount of costs attributable to commencing operation of the new facility. Such funds would expire after the building had been open for two years.
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