Opposition from local school boards to a proposed change in the BEP fiscal capacity model is growing, with a number of boards passing resolutions to that effect:

Maryville Daily Times, 3/10/2006:

The board passed a resolution that opposes a plan to change the basic education program funding formula that determines how much the state gives each local school system.

Dalton said the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) developed a model using 95 counties rather than the 136 school systems as a means for funding distribution.

The redistribution would cause the Maryville school system to lose $3.3 million annually, he said. The Association for Independent and Municipal School Systems is against the proposed changes, Dalton said.

The reason for the formula change is to bring equity to the poorer areas of the state and provide them with more money.

However, Dalton said he has studied the formula and that 14 out of the 15 richest counties would receive more money, and 14 out of the 15 poorest counties would lose money.

“We think there’s some pretty good reasons for opposing it,” Dalton said.

Oak Ridge, Cleveland, Kingsport and others have passed similar resolutions in recent weeks.