The county asserted that the state violated a 2004 budget deal in which counties and cities agreed to give up a portion of vehicle licensing fees and local property taxes to help close the state budget deficit. To repay counties, the state Legislature guaranteed funding for school districts where property taxes alone do not cover school budget needs, according to the county.
"The current state of these schools is unacceptable," said State Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, describing the heartbreaking findings from the investigation regarding deteriorating school conditions.