Seattle and Spokane School Boards Fight a $10-per-Child Funding Bill
The two city boards petitioned the state Senate against the Rogers school bill, arguing that its per-capita apportionment discriminated against cities and dumped an unjust burden on urban taxpayers.
Olympia, Feb. 18.—When the Senate convened this afternoon, petitions were read from the boards of education of Spokane and Seattle protesting against the passage of the Rogers school bill for the reason that it discriminates against cities and towns, and imposes unjust burdens upon taxpayers. The bill referred to requires a taxation and apportionment which will give to children of school age $10 per capita.
“It discriminates against cities and towns, and imposes unjust burdens upon taxpayers.”
Then as now, school funding formulas set city taxpayers against rural districts, with per-pupil guarantees creating winners and losers. The Seattle board's protest shows that the urban-rural money fight over public schools is older than the state itself almost.
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