| Board hopes to beat fuzzy wording Money-saving ballot item failed in '98 04/13/2001 By Daphne Brown / The Dallas Morning News Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD board members hope an awkwardly worded question on the May 5 election ballot won't trip up voters a second time.
In May 1998, voters rejected Option 4, which would have allowed the district to keep more of the money it contributes toward the state's equalization funding formula.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Griffin said officials attribute the loss to confusing wording. State law requires that the item read "Authorizing the Board of Trustees of Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School Board to educate students of other school districts with local tax revenue."
As a state-classified, property-wealthy school district, Carrollton-Farmers Branch must participate in a program that sends tax money from property-wealthy districts to property-poor districts.
The district currently uses recapture Option 3, in which it sends money to the state to redistribute to property-poor districts. The May 5 ballot asks voters to consider Option 4, allowing Carrollton-Farmers Branch to contract with a neighboring district to educate students who live outside the district in Dallas County.
Mark Hyatt, assistant superintendent for support services, said the district already spends the money, but the change from Option 3 to Option 4 would let taxpayers have some say about where their money goes.
"It's not a choice of either-or, but how," Mr. Hyatt said.
If Option 4 is approved, Mr. Hyatt said, it could reduce the amount of money scheduled for the 2000-2001 bill the district must pay. Carrollton-Farmers Branch must relinquish $42 million to the state this year. Next year, the amount will increase to $61 million
The proposition that board members want voters to approve would shave approximately $1.5 million off the total bill, Dr. Griffin said. Every year, the district sends more money to the state to distribute among less-wealthy school districts, she said. Mr. Hyatt said it would be more efficient to contract directly with districts instead of going through the Texas Education Agency. If Option 4 is approved, board members would decide which school district to partner with and whether to use a third-party consortium, such as Dallas County or Region 10, Mr. Hyatt said.
"It's been a fighting battle to get the word out," Dr. Griffin said. "We've asked our city councils, our PTAs, our principals, everyone.
"We're hoping we're getting some help with that, but still it's so hard to reach people."
Carrollton-Farmers Branch has sent $165.5 million to the state since it began equalizing funding during the 1993-94 school year.
The district has joined other property-wealthy school districts in a lawsuit to challenge the school finance law. Approximately 85 of the 1,041 public school districts in Texas are classified as wealthy, according to the TEA.
Wealthier districts must choose one of five options for sending their money. Options 1, 2 and 5 involve consolidating with another school district, reducing property wealth by detaching property and consolidating tax bases with another school district, respectively. The first two options among the five require school board approval, and the last three require voter approval.
Staff writer Daphne Brown can be reached at 972-418-9999, ext. 2001, and by e-mail at .
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