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Reports on calls for changes to the school tax system in Nassau County, New York. Board of Assessors chairman Harvey B. Levinson's criticism of the system; Levinson's suggestion that residential property taxes be replaced with a personal income tax; Impact of how much tax-producing commercial property is in a school district; Levinson's belief that abolishing school taxes on homes would ease housing costs.

To the Editor: Re ''Wealthy Suburb Cuts Corners to Keep a Lid on School Taxes'' (front page, March 9): [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 17 percent of the New Jersey school districts that had budgets rejected by voters this spring have been ordered by town councils to make cuts to lower their proposed school taxes by at least 3 percent, according to an analysis by The New York Times of state education data released on Thursday. In the previous two years, 8 percent of districts with failed budgets made reductions of that magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Most everyone agrees that something is very wrong with the six-page federal form for families seeking help with college costs. Created in 1992 to simplify applying for financial aid, it has become so intimidating -- with more than 100 questions -- that critics say it scares off the very families most in need, preventing some teenagers from going to college. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

GARLAN GLOVER, 88, is looking forward to the rebate check due to come his way next month. The check -- for about $1,180 -- is part of the School Tax Relief program, known as STAR, which helps residents offset property taxes. As in past years, the money will help Mr. Glover, a widower who lives in a house here that he helped build in 1954, cover the cost of some basics: groceries, heating and electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE annual STAR rebate checks may not have the same benefit for Long Islanders this year, because some -- or all -- of each rebate may be wiped out by a higher school tax bill. When taxpayers receive their tax bills -- next month for Nassau County homeowners and in December for Suffolk residents -- most will find an increase in their school taxes because of a smaller STAR reimbursement to their local school district. The difference will range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

RESIDENTS here have long wished for a thriving downtown where they could shop and work -- a business district that would also help shoulder their heavy school taxes. Instead, there are exactly one supermarket and one bank, zero drugstores and nary a 7-Eleven or Starbucks in sight. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A MONTH before they put their budgets to a vote, school districts on Long Island learned they would receive an additional $236 million in state aid. A majority of districts say they will use the money to ease their school taxes. Since most districts had already set their budgets before the final numbers were approved by the State Legislature on April 9, they will not be likely to make last-minute changes in programs and services, said Lorraine Deller, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses the impacts of a school tax proposal rejection on the functioning of the Dayton Early College Academy in Dayton, Ohio. As a result of the rejection of the school tax levy on May 9, 2007, the school district was forced to cut $30 million form its budget. This cut may force the academy to resort to a traditional model of education, leaving aside academic experiments. The academy was founded and operated with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others.

The article reports on the plan of Nassau County executive Thomas R. Suozzi to cut school property taxes and improve troubled schools in New York.

The article reports that Thomas R. Suozzi, the county executive of Nassau County, New York, is planning to tackle school taxes in the county.

Reports that a special session of the Texas Legislature focused on restructuring the public school finance system collapsed when both the House and Senate adjourned two days ahead of schedule with no agreement in sight. Governor Rick Perry wanted to reduce property taxes and offset lost revenue with higher levies on gambling and erotic entertainment; End to a system in which taxes from affluent school districts underwrite poor school districts.

Discusses school taxes in New York State and the outlook for proposed tax increases in various districts. Speculation on how residents will vote in local school budgets; Comments of voters; Why the budget votes were delayed in 2003 by a battle in the State Legislature over education aid; Details of the budget proposed by Governor George E. Pataki; The challenge of persuading voters to approve budgets in light of higher county taxes and the weak economy.