KGMI News
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) – The Washington state Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the state has met its constitutional requirement to fully fund K-12 education, or if it should still be held in contempt for a lack of progress.
The high court’s 2012 ruling found that school funding was not adequate. Lawmakers needed a funded plan this year ahead of a Sept. 1, 2018 deadline set by the court.
The plan approved and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee earlier this year relies largely on an increase to the statewide property tax. The tax increases from $1.89 to $2.70 per $1,000 of assessed value, starting next year.
The plan – which keeps in place local property tax levies but caps them beginning in 2019 at a lower level – will ultimately raise property taxes for some districts and lower them in others.
Attorneys for the state of Washington told the state Supreme Court they have complied with a court mandate to fully fund the state’s basic education system, but an attorney for the coalition behind the long running lawsuit disagreed.
The high court heard arguments for about an hour, during which the court’s nine justices at times were visibly frustrated with answers from both sides.
The state has been held in contempt by the court since 2014.
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