Bill forcing schools to share property taxes with charters passes. But 40% of senators voted no

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

60% : A controversial bill forcing traditional public schools to share property tax revenue with charter schools passed the Senate Thursday, splitting the chamber's Republicans after hours of contentious debate.
59% : Senate Bill 518 passed the Senate by a 28-21 vote, with 12 Republicans joining nine Democrats to vote against it over concerns that it would dilute funding for traditional public schools.
58% : A fiscal analysis of the legislation predicts public schools could have to divert $10.4 million to charter schools in 2028.
57% : "If this body is truly about choice, then why (does) choice have to come at the expense of the choice of a million people going to traditional schools?
54% : "When we talk about equity in education funding, ask yourself this, 'Is that equitable?'" Garton said.
54% : The bill only applies to districts that sends 100 or more kids to charter schools.
49% : But the bill has been supported by many Indiana charter schools and school choice proponents who argue that parents who send their kids to charter schools deserve to benefit from their property tax dollars.
46% : " Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, added that districts like IPS shouldn't retain 100% of property tax revenue when so many kids who live in the district are choosing to attend charter schools instead.
45% : Yoder said the state should fund charter schools in their "own right, without raiding the public property tax dollars." Rogers, on the other hand, said those traditional public schools are "receiving money for students they are not educating.
44% : The bill's author, Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, said public tax dollars "should be following the child" regardless of whether they go to traditional public or charter schools.
44% : Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said on Thursday that she was opposed to the bill because it dilutes public education funding, and public schools educate the vast majority of Indiana kids.
42% : Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, said charter schools that don't provide bus service shouldn't get property tax dollars, which are supposed to, in part, fund transportation.

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