PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW COLUMN: Of the hurdles that keep towns from merging schools, fear of higher taxes and lower property values are among the largest, policy analysts say.
Consolidating two or more school districts upends union contracts and budgets, plus the millage rates that support them. Inevitably, one district has higher taxes, bigger debt and lesser academic quality — or some combination of those…
“There’s no guarantee that costs will go down,” said Arnold Hillman, a consultant with the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools. “You really don’t know until there’s a serious investigation into what you’re talking about.”… (more)
