In addition to selecting candidates three weeks from now, Kentucky voters will also be making their opinions known on two constitutional amendments. Amendment Two is generating a lot of discussion within education circles.
If approved by voters, it would pave the way for public tax dollars to help pay tuition at private schools. Lexington Catholic High School President Rob Rumpke supports the amendment. As far as the process, Rumpke would prefer a tax credit instead of a school voucher.
“Where it would be like a tax credit, like a dependent on your annual income taxes. It’s not coming out of public coffers. It’s not coming out of public school money. It’s a tax credit to those families,” said Rumpke.
Rumpke envisions a 25 hundred-dollar tax credit, based on the level of income. He said that could get the tuition for non-catholic students under $5000. Rumpke said passage would place the matter back before lawmakers to set the format.
“The only thing this amendment does is open the opportunity for these discussions. It’s not an onslaught of taking over public school money or people saying I want to get into that coffer or that coffer. It’s opening the discussion for specific pieces of legislation,” said Rumpke.
Many opponents of Amendment Two argue passage would open the door to siphoning tax dollars out of public education and in turn harm public schools.
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