CONCORD — Once again, the state’s education funding system faces a legal challenge.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday in Grafton County Superior Court against the state by state residential and commercial property owners claims the state failed to meet the 1997 Supreme Court’s Claremont II decision declaring the use of local property taxes with varying rates to pay for the state’s obligation to provide its students with an adequate education is unconstitutional.
kAm%96 4@FCE D2:5 =@42= AC@A6CEJ E2I6D D6CG6 2D DE2E6 E2I6D H96? E96J 96=A A2J E96 DE2E6’D @3=:82E:@? E@ AC@G:56 2? 256BF2E6 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAmx? :ED CF=:?8 ad J62CD 28@[ E96 4@FCE D2:5 E96 4@?DE:EFE:@? C6BF:C6D E2I6D E@ 36 “6BF2= :? G2=F2E:@? 2?5 F?:7@C> :? C2E6 E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6” H96? :E 564=2C65 E96 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 DJDE6> F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2=]k^Am
kAmqC@F89E 3J AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD :? !=J>@FE9 2?5 !6?24@@<[ 2 G:==286 :? E96 r:EJ @7 r@?4@C5[ E96 DF:E 7@4FD6D @? E96 5:DA2C:E:6D :? E2I C2E6D 2>@?8 E96 !6>:\q2<6C 2?5 E96 |6CC:>24< '2==6J 2?5 r@?4@C5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED] !6?24@@< 92D 9:DE@C:42==J 925 :ED @H? D49@@= 5:DEC:4E D6A2C2E6 7C@> r@?4@C5]k^Am
kAm“%96 DJDE6> :D 325=J 3C@<6?[” D2:5 2EE@C?6J p?5CF '@=:?D<J[ H9@ H2D E96 =625 2EE@C?6J H:E9 y@9? %@3:? 7@C E96 @C:8:?2= r=2C6>@?E 65F42E:@? =2HDF:E[ “2?5 E96C6 :D ?@E9:?8 @? E96 9@C:K@? E@ 7:I :E]”k^Am
kAmw6 ?@E65 E96 r@?\'2= =2HDF:E 4=2:>:?8 E96 DE2E6 72:=D E@ A2J E96 ECF6 4@DE @7 2? 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? :D D4965F=65 7@C EC:2= :? pAC:= 2?5 9:D 8C@FA D66<D E@ 4@?D@=:52E6 E96 EH@ DF:ED]k^Am
kAm%96 DF:E 7:=65 %F6D52J 7@4FD6D D@=6=J @? E9C66 2DA64ED @7 E96 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 DJDE6>i E96 5:DA2C:E:6D :? AC@A6CEJ E2I C2E6D[ E96 :?6BF:E:6D :? E96 DE2E6H:56 65F42E:@? AC@A6CEJ E2I W$(t!%X 4@==64E:@? 2?5 E96 FD6 @7 ?682E:G6 =@42= D49@@= AC@A6CEJ E2I C2E6D E@ 2G@:5 A2J:?8 E96 DE2E6H:56 65F42E:@? E2I]k^Am
kAm%96 DJDE6> @7 H:56=J G2CJ:?8 D49@@= AC@A6CEJ E2I C2E6D 27764ED D@ >2?J E9:?8D :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 :D 6I246C32E65 3J E96 724E E96 DE2E6 :D E96 >@DE C6=:2?E @? AC@A6CEJ E2I6D E@ 7F?5 AF3=:4 65F42E:@? :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ '@=:?D<J D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6’D 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 DJDE6> :>A24ED “3FD:?6DD 4@>A6E:E:G6?6DD[ 72>:=:2= 4@DED[ 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ 4@?DECF4E:@?[ 36:?8 23=6 E@ 2EEC24E J@F?8 72>:=:6D E@ E2<6 ;@3D[” '@=:?D<J D2:5] “xE :D 2== C6=2E65 E@ E9:D 4C2KJ BF:=E D496>6 H6 92G6]”k^Am
kAm%@3:? D2:5[ “%96 C6=:2?46 @? H:56=J G2CJ:?8 =@42= E2I C2E6D E@ 7F?5 E96 $E2E6’D C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ AC@G:56 AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 4=62C=J G:@=2E6D E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 r@?DE:EFE:@? 2?5 E96 AC:?4:A=6D 6DE23=:D965 :? E96 r=2C6>@?E 42D6D] |@C6 :>A@CE2?E=J[ E96 F?6G6? 7F?5:?8 @7 65F42E:@? :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 27764ED E96 23:=:EJ @7 A@@C6C 5:DEC:4ED E@ AC@G:56 7@C E96 G2CJ:?8 ?665D @7 E96:C DEF56?ED] pD E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE ?@E65 =@?8 28@[ 23D6?E AF3=:4 65F42E:@?[ DEF56?ED 42??@E 364@>6 ‘4@>A6E:E@CD :? E96 >2C<6EA=246 @7 :562D]’ %9:D 9FCED DEF56?ED 2?5 9FCED E2IA2J6CD 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D :? >@DE 4@>>F?:E:6D 24C@DD @FC DE2E6]”k^Am
kAm%96 DF:E 4@?E6?5D E96 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 E96 DE2E6H:56 65F42E:@? AC@A6CEJ E2I :D 2=D@ F?4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 3642FD6 :E 2==@HD AC@A6CEJ H62=E9J 4@>>F?:E:6D E92E 5@ ?@E ?665 2== E96 =6GJ’D >@?6J E@ AC@G:56 E96:C DEF56?ED H:E9 2 DE2E6 567:?65 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? E@ C6E2:? E96 DFCA=FD >@?6J :?DE625 @7 FD:?8 :E E@ 96=A AC@A6CEJ A@@C 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 2C6 ?@ C6DEC:4E:@?D @? 9@H E@H?D 2?5 4:E:6D >2J FD6 E96 DFCA=FD AC@A6CEJ E2I >@?6J]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 D6ED E96 4@DE @7 2? 256BF2E6 65F42E:@? 2E Sb[f_h A6C DEF56?E H:E9 E96 2G6C286 8C2?E Sc[dfg H:E9 255:E:@?2= >@?6J 7@C DEF56?ED :? A@G6CEJ[ H9@ DA62< t?8=:D9 2D 2 D64@?5 =2?8F286 @C ?665 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAm%96 2G6C286 DE2E6H:56 4@DE E@ 65F42E6 2 49:=5 7@C E96 a_a_\a` D49@@= J62C H2D S`g[cbc]a`[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@?[ E96 DF:E ?@E6D]k^Am
kAm{@42= AC@A6CEJ E2I6D H:E9 G2CJ:?8 C2E6D 7:== E96 82A 36EH66? E96 24EF2= 4@DE 2?5 H92E 2 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E C646:G6D :? 256BF24J 8C2?ED]k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6H:56 2G6C286 7@C E96 =@42= 65F42E:@? AC@A6CEJ E2I C2E6 H2D S``]bb A6C S`[___ @7 6BF2=:K65 G2=F2E:@? 7@C E96 a_a_\a_a` D49@@= J62C]k^Am
kAm!6>:\q2<6C E@H?D 92G6 E2I C2E6D E92E G2CJ 7C@> 2 9:89 @7 S`d]ad A6C S`[___ :? r2>AE@? E@ =@HD @7 Sb]bb A6C S`[___ :? (2E6CG:==6 '2==6J 2?5 Se]h_ :? w@=56C?6DD[ H9:=6 !=J>@FE9[ H96C6 A=2:?E:77 $E6G6 #2?5 {:G6D 2?5 @H?D AC@A6CEJ[ 92D 2 E2I C2E6 @7 S`b]eh A6C S`[___]k^Am
kAmx? !6?24@@<[ H96C6 A=2:?E:77D #@36CE v23C:6==:[ |]s][ 2?5 y6DD:42 (966=6C #FDD6== @H? AC@A6CEJ[ E96 a_a_\a_a` D49@@= E2I C2E6D 7@C E96 DE2E6H:56 AC@A6CEJ E2I 2?5 =@42= D49@@= E2I H6C6 2 4@>3:?65 S`e]fc A6C S`[___[ H9:=6 r@?4@C5 AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD A2:5 S`b]g`]k^Am
kAm'@=:?D<J D2:5 H:E9 C68:@?2= D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED[ E96 DEF56?ED C646:G6 E96 D2>6 65F42E:@?2= D6CG:46D[ 3FE E96 A2C6?ED A2J 5:776C6?E E2I C2E6D E@ DFAA@CE E9@D6 D6CG:46D]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 :7 2 A6CD@? 3FJD 2 9@FD6 :? !6?24@@< H9:49 :D :? E96 |6CC:>24< '2==6J #68:@?2= $49@@= s:DEC:4E[ E96 D2>6 9@FD6 2 >:=6 2H2J :? E96 r@?4@C5 $49@@= s:DEC:4E 92D 2 E2I C2E6 5@==2CD =@H6C E92? :? !6?24@@<]k^Am
kAm“%92E :D 2 EC@F3=:?8 2?@>2=J @7 E96 DJDE6> 2?5 2 AC@5F4E @7 9@H E96 DJDE6> H@C<D[” '@=:?D<J D2:5[ “2?5 9@H :E 4=62C=J :D 2 =@42= DJDE6> 2?5 ?@E 2 DE2E6H:56 DJDE6>]”k^Am
kAm$@>6 D>2== 4@>>F?:E:6D H:E9 ?@ @C 76H 49:=5C6? D6E E96:C D49@@= E2I C2E6 :? ?682E:G6 ?F>36CD D@ E96J 5@ ?@E 92G6 E@ A2J E96 DE2E6H:56 AC@A6CEJ E2I]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ w2=6’D {@42E:@? D6ED :ED =@42= D49@@= E2I C2E6 2E ?682E:G6 S`]gc A6C S`[___[ H9:=6 :ED DE2E6H:56 AC@A6CEJ E2I C2E6 :D S`]gd 7@C 2? 67764E:G6 C2E6 @7 @?6 46?E]k^Am
kAmp E@E2= @7 ?:?6 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ 4@>>F?:E:6D FD6 E96 ?682E:G6 E2I C2E6 E@ A2J =:EE=6 @C ?@ DE2E6H:56 AC@A6CEJ E2I]k^Am
kAm“!6E:E:@?6CD 6IA64E E9:D E2I 2G@:52?46 DEC2E68J E@ 4@?E:?F6 C682C5=6DD @7 E96 2>@F?E @7 C6G6?F6 86?6C2E65 3J E96 $(t!%[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 DF:E]k^Am
kAm%96 DF:E 2=D@ =@@<D 2E E96 6BF2=:K65 G2=F2E:@? 2G2:=23=6 E@ 2 4@>>F?:EJ E@ A2J E@ 65F42E6 @?6 49:=5 :? E96 z:?56C82CE6? E@ `aE9 8C256 DJDE6>]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 42=4F=2E:@?D DE2E6H:56[ 6BF2=:K65 G2=F2E:@?D A6C AFA:= :? a_a_\a_a` D49@@= J62C C2?865 7C@> 2 =@H @7 Sdab[agd A6C AFA:= :? r=2C6>@?E E@ 2 9:89 @7 S`a_[ge`[ccb A6C AFA:= :? |:==D7:6=5[ 2?5 7@C 4@>>F?:E:6D H:E9 2E =62DE `__ D49@@=\2865 49:=5C6?[ E96 9:89 H2D Sg[hgf[h_a A6C AFA:= :? |@F=E@?3@C@F89]k^Am
kAm!@CED>@FE9 925 2? 6BF2=:K65 G2=F2E:@? A6C AFA:= @7 Sb[bhh[bd_[ ;FDE D9J @7 E9C66 E:>6D E96 DE2E6 2G6C286[ H9:=6 !=J>@FE9 925 Shca[eda]ba A6C AFA:=[ >62?:?8 !=J>@FE9 92D 23@FE f_ A6C46?E @7 E96 7:?2?4:2= DEC6?8E9 E@ C2:D6 >@?6J 7@C :ED D49@@=D 2D E96 2G6C286 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E :? }6H w2>AD9:C6]k^Am
kAm'@=:?D<J ?@E65 E96 5:DA2C:E:6D 2C6 8C@H:?8 H@CD6 @G6C E:>6 H:E9 f_ A6C46?E @7 DEF56?ED :? 5:DEC:4ED 36=@H E96 DE2E6 2G6C286[ H9:=6 E96 H62=E9:6C D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2C6 8C@H:?8 E96:C G2=F2E:@?D A6C DEF56?E]k^Am
kAm“(6’C6 H:E?6DD:?8 E96 H:56?:?8 @7 E96 5:G:56[” '@=:?D<J D2:5] “xE :D H@CD6 ?@H ;F58:?8 3J E96 ?F>36C @7 <:5D @? @?6 D:56 @7 E96 5:G:56 G6CDFD E96 @E96C]”k^Am
kAm%96 DE2E6 92D ?6G6C 366? :? 4@>A=:2?46 56DA:E6 E96 4@FCE’D <6J 564:D:@? :? s646>36C `hhf[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“p?5 E9:D :D 3@E9 #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED 72:=:?8 E@ 562= H:E9 E9:D[” '@=:?D<J D2:5] “xE :D 2 3:A2CE:D2? 72:=FC6]”k^Am
kAm%96 2EE@C?6JD C6AC6D6?E:?8 E96 A=2:?E:77D :?4=F56i }2E2=:6 {27=2>>6 @7 r@?4@C5[ y@9? t] %@3:?[ yC][ @7 r@?4@C5[ p?5CF '@=:?D<J @7 r@?4@C5[ vC68@CJ {:EE=6 @7 t5F42E:@? {2H r6?E6C[ y@D9F2 s] (665>2?[ |:4926=\p?E9@?J y2@F56[ p=6I2?5C2 +6886C (9:E6 U2>Aj r2D6 {{! @7 }6H *@C<]k^Am
kAmv2CCJ #2J?@ >2J 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>Qm82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.