Supreme Court: Unconstitutional to require local government to subsidize private schools
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tallinn City Council on Tuesday evening, saying that it was not right for the state to require local governments to co-finance private schools in the absence of earmarked funds from the state budget.
Tallinn City Council had wanted the Court to do one of two things: rule that the absence of specific legal acts ensuring state funding was unconstitutional; or say that it was in fact a municipal obligation and repeal the section in the Private Schools Act.
The court ruled that it was unconstitutional, saying it was not an essential and intrinsic local government obligation.
Tallinn is also seeking reimbursements for back expenses spent on private education, which it says stand at 2 million euros over four years. It says the sum could increase because it is also disputing the obligation to fund special-needs schools.