Myth 3: Public education money belongs to public schools

This is a continuation of the Myths from the Opposition series.

• Utah’s Referendum 1: 5 articles you don’t want to miss reading
• Referendum 1 for Utah? What are the REAL facts?
• Utah Vouchers: Myths from the opposition
• Myth No. 2: Vouchers will divert money from schools

Myth No. 3: Public Education Money Belongs to Public Schools

Fact: Public education money (money for educating the public) does not belong to public schools; it belongs to the public, and public officials appropriate it on behalf of the public. In Utah those officials have set aside $3.5 billion of that money (taxes) to go to schools that are “free” to the public. They are especially free if you are renting and don’t own property because those tax dollars for education are tied to property ownership.

At the end of the day, this is all just more proof that teachers are lying when they go on television and tell you vouchers take money from public schools. Vouchers come from the general budget and do not have anything to do with the tax dollars that are budgeted to public schools.