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14 School Lsw Bulletin winter 1991
<br /> Table 2 from 1985=to 1993 was 17 percent, while the average
<br /> Average Change in Schools'Reported Needs,1988 increase in needs from 1984 to 1993 was 162 percent.
<br /> to 1993,after Adjustment for Construction Spending, Further, there was only a weak correlation between the
<br /> 1989 to 1993(by projected enrollment change,
<br /> enrollment size, and 1991 per capita income) increased number of teachers and increased needs.
<br /> In only 7 counties did the number of teachers in-
<br /> Change in Reported Needs, crease by more than 30 percent, and in only 32 counties
<br /> 1988 to 1993 did the number of teachers increase by more than 20
<br /> percent. In 28 counties the number of teachers either
<br /> Number Range of fell (due to declining enrollments) or increased by less
<br /> of Average Change(%) than 10 percent. Yet of these 28 counties, needs at least
<br /> Counties Change Low High doubled in 12 counties and at least tripled in 6.
<br /> Projected Enrollment
<br /> Change, 1993 to 2003 Summary and Conclusion
<br /> Less than -5% 9 +92% -15 +431
<br /> 0 to -5% 12 +56 -55 +262 In 1981 local school officials in all 100 counties
<br /> 0 to +5% 13 +59 -25 +237 began to report their needs for funds to replace obsolete
<br /> +5% to 9.9% 21 +94 -47 +737 and temporary school buildings and to provide "attrac-
<br /> + 10% to 14.9% 15 +106 +7 +230 tive, safe, and functional facilities" for their students.
<br /> +15% to 19.9% 13 +88 -55 +191 Despite declining enrollments during the 1980s, these
<br /> +20% to 29.9% 12 +122 + 1 +397
<br /> +30% or more 5 +150 +11 +312 reported needs escalated sharply, from a total of $1.8
<br /> billion in 1981 to $3.7 billion in 1988. In 1993 school
<br /> 1993 Enrollment officials still complained of obsolete and inadequate
<br /> Less than 3,000 20 +86 -55 +737 school facilities, and reported needs escalated further,
<br /> 3,000 to 5,999 25 +76 -55 +311 to $5.6 billion.
<br /> 6,000 to 9,999 19 +100 +2 +261 These figures disguise the fact that both the state
<br /> 10,000 to 19,999 26 +91 -6 +277 government and most counties responded forcefully to
<br /> 20,000 or more 10 +134 -47 +397 meet the needs reported by school officials. The Gen-
<br /> 1991 Per Capita eral Assembly authorized new local sales taxes in
<br /> Income 1983 and 1986, earmarking a portion of counties' re-
<br /> Less than $12,000 6 +10 -55 +94 ceipts to be set aside for school construction and
<br /> $12,000 to 12,999 15 +34 -55 +82 school debt, and in 1987 provided additional funds
<br /> $13,000 to 13,999 21 +83 -6 +431 through the School Facilities Finance Act. Funds from
<br /> $14,000 to 14,999 17 +122 -25 +737 these sources were distributed in a way that favored
<br /> $15,000 to 15,999 15 +105 +1 +311
<br /> $16,000 to 19,999 20 +100 -40 +278 Poorer counties.
<br /> $20,000 to more 6 +208 +113 +397 Counting only the earmarked portion of county
<br /> sales tax receipts and receipts from the Public School
<br /> Building Capital Fund and the Critical School Facility
<br /> Needs Fund, both created by the 1987 act, state aid for
<br /> account for 56 percent of the net increase, and 2 coun- school construction totaled almost S 1.5 billion from
<br /> ties (Wake and Mecklenburg) account for 33 percent 1984 to 1993.
<br /> of the net increase. This state aid amounted to a substantial share of
<br /> Beginning in 1985 with the enactment of the Ba- the schools' reported long-term needs. For example.
<br /> sic Education Program, the state began providing addi- during the eight fiscal years following the 1984 survey.
<br /> tional teachers in all units, thus lowering pupil-teacher state atd to the 100 counties averaged 81 percent of
<br /> ratios. Of course, this factor was offset partly by falling needs reported that year. In 78 counties state aid ex-
<br /> enrollments in many units during the 1980s. While the ceedecl 50 percent of the schools' reported needs, in 39
<br /> program undoubtedly created a substantial increase in coutitie, it exceeded 80 percent of reported needs. and
<br /> needs for classroom and other space after 1985, in- in 20 counties it exceeded all reported needs.
<br /> creases in the number of teachers does not appear to Counties and their school systems responded by
<br /> explain the sharp escalation in needs in the various creatin`a a dramatic boom in school construction, alto-
<br /> counties. The average increase in number of teachers =ether ,pending twice as much as they received in state
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