Fixing school funding inequity vital, Hogg says

DAVENPORT - Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Robb Hogg said Wednesday that he is personally dedicated to fixing the part of the school funding formula that doesn't allow school districts such as Davenport, for instance, to spend as much per pupil as other districts in the state.

Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, was in Davenport on Wednesday to urge Iowans to stand up to the Republicans' legislative agenda.

Starting Monday, Republicans will control both houses of the Legislature, and Democratic leaders have been fanning out across the state to raise support for what they concede will be a defensive posture this session.

Hogg, along with Rep. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf, and Sen. Rita Hart, D-Wheatland, said at a news conference at Scott County Democratic headquarters they are worried about the potential for curtailing collective bargaining rights for public employees, the imposing of identification requirements to vote, the prospects for an increase in the minimum wage and K-12 education funding.

Republicans and Democrats have argued about how much to spend on K-12 schools for years, and Hogg said he is 'very concerned” there won't be enough money allotted this session. At the same time, he said that even though he an't guarantee complete unanimity in his caucus, the equity issue needs to be resolved.

'It's a problem, but I'm telling you as a leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, for me, we need to address that issue,” he said.

'I think it's actually unconscionable that the superintendent would stand up and say he's going to do the right thing and he's criticized for violating the law. We need to address that issue - period,” he added.

Davenport school officials are among some in the state who have been trying for years to get lawmakers to change the formula, which allows some districts to spend up to $175 more per pupil than others. Davenport may spend $6,591 per pupil. Others can go as high as $6,766 per pupil, although most are below that.

Davenport Superintendent Art Tate has objected to the inequity and has broken state law by using district reserves to make up the difference. As a result, he faces an ethics complaint that was filed by the state education department. The complaint is pending.

Resolving the issue is a political challenge in the Legislature, where critics of the education funding formula say the per-pupil disparity is only one of a number of inequities.

In addition, revenue estimates this year will limit new spending.

Some Quad-City lawmakers have proposed allowing districts to dip into unspent reserves to make up the disparity, at least until a longer-term fix is found. But that has raised concerns about a possible increases in property taxes.