EDUCATION FUNDING BILLS INTRODUCED

Brainerd State Lawmaker John Ward introduced two bills concerning public school funding last week. Ward and sits on the E-12 and Education Finance Economic Competitiveness Finance Division Committees. One bill would repeal the seasonal property tax exemption for school operating levies. The other would outlaw operating levies based on property taxes. Ward said the school funding formula is broken and needs to be fixed because schools have cut all they can. Ward is a retired school teacher.