A Sound, Basic Educational Challenge: Business Officials' Perceptions of Adequacy and Equity Under a Tax-Levy Limit in New York State

This is a study of business officials' perceptions toward adequacy and equity under a tax-levy limit in New York State. For purposes of this study, I use the parameters established by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity to define adequacy and equity. The research questions utilize the variables of district size, budget size, referendum (voting) pass rate, and district wealth measure. The literature review constructs a historical foundation of school finance, including significant legislation pertaining to funding structures, economic and political factors, and litigations that influenced the development of school finance, and a tax-levy limit. The participants of this study are from school districts located in Suffolk and Nassau counties in Long Island, New York. Business Officials develop annual school budgets as the tool to finance a district's educational initiatives. The researcher utilized a survey instrument that included 25 items sent to 120 business officials across Long island districts. This survey contains statements regarding individual business officials' perceptions of New York State's tax-levy limit and its impact on educational adequacy and equity. The researcher analyzed returned surveys in order to understand business officials' perspectives of adequacy and equity in the era of a tax-levy limit in New York State.