Huntsville, AL – A lawsuit filed by parents in two Alabama counties is challenging the state's property tax system, saying it was designed to discriminate and is holding back proper funding from schools.
Parents are pushing to overturn legislation they say limits funding for black students.
The state has argued that school funds from the state are distributed on a fair basis and there is no discrimination.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say that with increased property taxes, schools would see financial gain. They say rates in rural areas could be increased, taking advantage of abundant timber and farm lands.
Alabama officials say the state ranks 42nd nationally in per capita income and 34th in education spending.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)