Weidner stumps for Impact Aid
Weidner stumps for Impact Aid
By Jerry W. Kram
Parshall School District John Weidner reported on his recent trip to Washington, D.C., at the last regular meeting of Parshall School Board. Weidner said the most important aspect of his visit was to lobby for Impact Aid, something that is a major source of financing for the district.
Weidner attended the Impact Aid Conference in the nation’s capital. He said he received a good education on the importance of Impact Aid to school districts like Parshall and threats to that funding in Congress.
Weidner told the board that Impact Aid is not a form of assistance or welfare. It replaces income from property taxes that the district would normally be entitled to but can’t collect because the land is owned or controlled by the federal government. The schools most affected by this are those on reservations, such as Parshall, or have military bases in their districts.
“The word ‘aid’ in the name is unfortunate,” Weidner said. “This isn’t any sort of a handout or freebie. This is money that replaces the property tax that would normally be owed on land that happens to be owned by the Federal government.”
