@bryansmart@mstdn.social @acarson We all pay taxes, so I would think that my tax dollars are supporting this. Sales tax, income tax, property tax, taxes period.
@wiljames @bryansmart [mstdn.social] That's not how taxes work.
@acarson @bryansmart@mstdn.social Taxes for schools primarily come from local property taxes, state funding, and some federal funding. Here's a breakdown of how these taxes work and whether taxpayers can designate where their taxes go:
1. **Local Property Taxes**:
- **Primary Source**: Local property taxes are the main source of funding for public schools in many parts of the United States. Property owners pay taxes based on the assessed value of their property, and a portion of these taxes is allocated to the local school district.
- **Assessment and Rates**: Property tax rates are set by local governments and school boards, and the amount of tax collected depends on property values and tax rates in the area.
2. **State Funding**:
- **Supplementary Source**: States provide additional funding to ensure more equitable distribution of resources among school districts. This funding often aims to balance disparities between wealthy and less affluent districts.
- **Formulas and Grants**: State funding is typically distributed through complex formulas that consider factors such as student enrollment, community wealth, and specific needs (e.g., special education).
3. **Federal Funding**:
- **Targeted Assistance**: The federal government provides funding primarily for specific programs and needs, such as Title I for low-income students, special education, and other targeted initiatives.
- **Smaller Proportion**: Federal funding constitutes a smaller proportion of overall school funding compared to local and state sources.
4. **Designating Taxes**:
- **General Fund Allocation**: Typically, taxpayers cannot designate where their taxes go. Property taxes and other local taxes collected for schools are pooled into a general fund, which the school district allocates based on its budget and priorities.
- **Specific Contributions**: While taxpayers cannot direct their mandatory taxes, they can make voluntary contributions or donations to specific schools or programs. These contributions can sometimes be earmarked for specific uses, such as building improvements, scholarships, or extracurricular activities.
In summary, school funding is primarily derived from local property taxes, supplemented by state and federal contributions. Taxpayers generally cannot designate how their mandatory taxes are used, but they can make voluntary contributions to specific schools or programs if they wish to support particular initiatives.