Property utilization and public school funding: A correlational study of the Equalized Net Grand List in Connecticut
Date of Completion
January 2000
Keywords
Education, Finance
Degree
Ph.D.
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the change in town property wealth and the change in the state general fund equalization aid grant payment to a town in support of equalizing public elementary and secondary education per pupil expenditures in Connecticut. In addition to studying the change in total town property wealth, the subgroup of industrial and commercial town property wealth is examined. ^ The sample population for this study was the 169 towns in Connecticut. The independent variables measuring the change in town property wealth were developed using each town's Equalized Net Grand List data. The dependent variable measuring the change in the state general fund equalization aid grant payment to a town was developed from Connecticut's major state education grant program. This study involved an analysis of town data on a statewide basis and an analysis of town data aggregated into Education Reference Group (ERG) domains. ^ Six null hypotheses were generated to investigate the relationship between the change in town property wealth and the change in Connecticut's major state education grant provided to towns. Hypotheses One, Two and Three were examined through correlation analysis. Hypothesis One was rejected because a significant correlation existed between the change in total town property wealth and the change in the state general fund equalization aid grant payment provided to a town for 111 of the 14 change periods studied. Hypothesis Two was rejected, as a significant correlation existed between the change in town commercial and industrial property wealth and the change in the state general fund equalization aid grant payment to a town for 10 of the 14 change periods examined. Hypothesis Three was rejected because a significant correlation existed between a proportional change in commercial and industrial property wealth relative to total town wealth and the change in the state general fund equalization aid grant payment provided to a town for five of the 14 change periods. Null Hypotheses Four, Five and Six were not rejected. ^ This study concludes with policy implications and research recommendations. ^
Recommended Citation
Stange, Mark Robert, "Property utilization and public school funding: A correlational study of the Equalized Net Grand List in Connecticut" (2000). Doctoral Dissertations. AAI9984088.
https://digitalcommons.lib.uconn.edu/dissertations/AAI9984088