We are pleased that the New Hampshire Supreme Court once again reaffirmed the constitutional principles mandating that the state provide an adequate education to all New Hampshire K-12 students, funded with taxes that are uniform and proportional.
At the same time, we are disappointed that the case is being sent back to the Superior Court for a trial. We hope the Superior Court understands the importance of resolving this case to those currently in school and finds a way to speed the process so that it does not take several more years. Still, based upon years’ of available evidence, we are confident that any trial will demonstrate what is already evident to anyone who attends a New Hampshire public school or who is responsible for educating our children: the resources that the state now distributes to local communities are wholly insufficient to provide a constitutionally adequate education.
Indeed, as the Commission to Study School Funding recently concluded after thorough study, New Hampshire’s current school funding system is inequitable and unfair to students and taxpayers. It is well past time for the Legislature to address this problem.
While we believe that, after some delay, the youth and taxpayers of New Hampshire will ultimately prevail, another generation of Granite State students will needlessly experience the inadequate and inequitable system that has persisted for far too long. Thousands of students will not have the educational opportunities they deserve and thousands of property taxpayers will continue to pay disproportionate and burdensome taxes on their homes and businesses while the court process goes on, unless the Legislature finally resolves this issue in a comprehensive way.
For the complete text of the Supreme Court’s opinion, please click here.