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10 School Law Bulletin w inter 1991 Figure 10 Total School Debt Service Payments in the 100 Counties 160 140 I I 1_0 I too- 80- 0 c 60 40 20 0 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 Fiscal Year Ending For the state as a whole, debt service payments almost during the ensuing eight years? As Figure 13, on page tripled between 1983 and 1993, despite the trend dur- 12, shows, average spending on capital needs from ing this period toward lower interest rates. (See Figure 1986 to 1993 as a percentage of 1984 reported needs 10.) Eleven counties had no school indebtedness during was lowest in the lower-income counties. In the 6 that period. Of the remaining 89 counties, debt service counties with per capita incomes below $12,000, aver- payments at least doubled in 51 counties between 1984 age spending as a percentage of 1984 needs was 82 and 1993. Of those 51 counties, payments at least percent, though that average disguises a range from 27 tripled in 38 counties and increased at least fivefold in percent to 152 percent. In comparison, spending aver- 27 counties. Twelve counties that had no debt service aged 203 percent of needs in the 6 highest-income payments in 1984 had substantial payments in 1993. counties. For all counties together, spending averaged (See Figure 11.) 123 percent of needs. On the other hand, 31 counties had lower debt ser- Many low-income counties did fairly well in vice payments in 1993 than in 1984. Fifteen of those meeting needs. Between 1986 and 1993, for example.4 counties reduced payments by 50 percent or more, and of the 10 lowest-income counties spent an amount ex- 8 counties that had debt service payments in 1984 had ceeding their 1984 reported needs. Of the 50 counties none in 1993. with lowest incomes, spending equaled at least 80 per- 5. How Well Have Poorer Counties Met Con- cent of needs in 26 counties. (In comparison. 38 of the struction Needs? As noted earlier, the distribution of 50 highest-income counties spent that much relative to state aid was intended to favor poorer counties. As Fig- their needs.) In those 26 counties, spending exceeded ure 12 shows, state aid per student from 1984 to 1993 reported needs in 18 counties, exceeded 150 percent of was much greater for counties with the lowest per needs in 11 counties, and was more than double 1984 capita incomes. The 6 lowest-income counties received reported needs in 5 counties. Of the 24 counties that more than twice as much state aid per student as did the failed to meet 80 percent of needs, 14 met less than 50 6 highest-income counties. State aid from 1986 to 1993 percent of needs, and 5 counties met less than 30 per- averaged 98 percent of needs reported in 1984 by the cent of needs. (See Figure 14, page 12.) 10 lowest-income counties but averaged 70 percent in What accounts for the fact that 24 of the low- the 10 counties with highest incomes. In that period income counties met less than 80 percent of 1984 re- state aid averaged 86 percent of 1984 reported needs in ported needs? the 50 counties with lowest incomes, and 77 percent in That their reported needs were relatively high may the 50 counties with highest incomes. have been a contributing factor. In the 10 poorest coun- Spending compared to 1984 reported needs. How ties. for example. 1984 reported needs per student aver- well did the poorer counties meet 1984 reported needs aged 53,013, while in the 10 highest-income counties