Funding for Public Schools and Colleges

Funding for Public Schools and Colleges

The Facts

Funding for public schools has never recovered from the cuts of recent years. Today, Chapter 70 state funding for education is $541 million less than it was in fiscal year 2002, when adjusted for inflation. As a result, schools have had to cut services, reduce staff, increase class sizes, eliminate courses and increase fees.

Massachusetts ranks 29th in the country in the share of personal income spent on K - 12 education by the state and local governments - and it is 37th in the percentage of total public education costs borne by the state.

Massachusetts ranks 49th in appropriation of state funds for higher education operating expenses per $1,000 of personal income.

Our schools and higher education system need adequate and stable funding. The state is facing an estimated budget deficit of $1.3 billion for Fiscal Year 2009, which starts July 1, 2008. This means that the revenues the state expects to collect during the year fall $1.3 billion short of the amount needed to maintain services at their current levels. New revenues are essential.