Senate Democrats Fight to Keep Public Dollars in Public Schools
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 568-9357
CONCORD – Today, Senator Jay Kahn (D-Keene) introduced SB 432 to the Senate Education Committee. SB 432 would repeal the school voucher program inserted into the last state budget. The bill has not yet been acted on and will remain in committee until a vote is taken during an Executive Session.
After the hearing, prime sponsor Senator Jay Kahn (D-Keene) issued the following statement:
“The state’s cost for the student voucher program is $8 million over budget this year alone, drawing on the same state funds established to fund public schools to which funding has been cut. Property taxpayers need to make up the difference in the state’s funding decrease to public schools. Who stands to lose in this proposition? 160,000 students attending public schools and property taxpayers who need to make up for what state funds don’t cover. If our focus is on educating students and lowering property taxes, we should be aiming to equalize educational opportunities for all students, not just families who opt to home school or send their children to private or religious schools."
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