ABSTRACT
Public education in the United States is big business. Revenue raised by all levels of government for K-12 education in 2003-04 amounted to nearly $450 billion (U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2006), and the National Education Association estimates total revenues exceeded $500 billion in 2005-06 (NEA, 2006). These revenues are raised as part of the larger federal fi scal system in the United States. Under this system governments at the local (such as cities and school districts), state, and federal levels all raise and spend public tax dollars.
