POTTSTOWN — Among Pennsylvania school districts, funding inequality is nothing new to area education officials. A recent “costing out” study paid for by the state Legislature found large disparities between districts’ per student spending.

“It confirms what we have been saying for years and years,” said John Armato, director of community relations for the Pottstown School District.

For example, schools in the Phoenixville Area School District spend, on average, $12,985 per student, while schools in the Boyertown Area School District spend $8,586. The gap is wider in wealthier areas like Lower Merion, where schools spend as much as $17,184. By contrast, institutions around Reading dedicate $7,458 for each learner.

The reason?

Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for schools in Pennsylvania. Unequal home assessments translate into unequal district funding, Armato said.

“Since (Pottstown’s) property tax has an eroding tax base, we have been, and will continue to be, at an economic and educational disadvantage to providing our youngsters with equal opportunity,” he said.

Primary funding shouldn’t be placed on “the backs of property owners,” he said. Those taxes are by nature unequal, and districts have little opportunity to increase them.

School funding in this state is $4.6 billion short from where it should be, according to a recent study. Additionally, the state ranks No. 45 in the country for public school funding coming directly from state government.

To provide an adequate education, spending on every boy and girl in the Pottstown School District should increase from its current level of $10,866 annually to $13,614, according to the study.

Linda Adams, business manager for the Pottstown district, said it is the first report of its kind she has seen in the state. She said back in 1949, the state provided up to 50 percent of funding.

“The state kept providing less and less,” she said.

One shouldn’t automatically assume that students in lower-spending districts are receiving a second-rate education, Adams said. That is because more money could be spent on higher teacher salaries or improved athletic fields — things that have little or no impact on performance and learning.

“That is not to say there wouldn’t be education inequalities,” she added.

This most recent report is meaningless unless acted upon, the Pottstown district officials said.

State politicians need to “step up and fund schools to the levels needed,” Adams said.

“And off of the backs of property owners,” Armato added.

There are several proposals floating around the state House and Senate dealing with property taxes and school funding. Under one bill announced in late October, the amount districts receive would eventually shift to the districts that need it most. An inflation index, combined with enrollment trends, would determine who gets more and who gets less from year to year, according to Rep. Sam Rohrer, R-128th, a key sponsor.

Dr. Myra Forrest, superintendent for Owen J. Roberts School District, had not had a chance to read the report and declined comment for this story. Spring-Ford Area School District Superintendent Marsha Hurda couldn’t be reached for comment.

The report came out this week and is authored by the Denver-based consulting firm of Augenblick, Palaich and Associates. It cost $648,000 to produce.