School Finance
Daily Digest | May 15
May 15th - 11:59 am
Our Daily Digest is a lunchtime look at the stories we have our eyes on at the Capitol and beyond. Here’s what we are watching today:
Starting with major news outside the Capitol, we’re expecting to know in less than three weeks whether former Governor Rick Perry will run for president. Perry’s wife, Anita, tweeted out an invitation this morning to an event in Dallas on June 4th with the caption, “@GovernorPerry and I have been discussing the future of this great country and how our family can play a role.” It’s widely assumed Perry will once again run for president. He has been traveling across the country for months speaking at events in key early primary states. Of course Perry ran for president back in 2012, and was a brief front-runner, before fading from the lead in the primary.
Governor Abbott signed another bill into law this morning. Senate Bill 788 requires direct dialing of 911 from multiple-line telephone systems. The bill was filed after a murder of Kari Rene Hunt in Marshall back in 2013. Her young daughter tried calling 911, but never reached the police because the phone required her to dial “9” to get an outside line. Governor Abbott released this statement:
“There’s a lesson virtually every parent teaches their child – if you face an emergency, call 9-1-1. I am signing Kari’s Law to ensure that whenever there is an emergency, any child and any adult who dials 9-1-1 is going to be able to connect with emergency personnel to ensure they come to the rescue of those who need help the most.”
And finally, the dust is still settling from House deadline day. State representatives had until midnight Thursday to get preliminary approval on legislation that originated in their chamber. Texas House Democrats dragged their feet all day with stall tactics called “chubbing,” and successfully kept a controversial anti-gay marriage bill from ever being debated. The Republican-led effort was meant to be used to defy the U.S. Supreme Court if gay marriage is legalized, by prohibiting state government employees from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Democrats stalled with lengthy debates over noncontroversial issues, and took a lot of time trying to pass a measure to raise the state minimum wage — which ultimately failed. Earlier in the day, Representative Jimmie Don Aycock took down his school finance reform bill to try to speed up the process, saying he didn’t want to take up too much of the chamber’s time with a bill that he didn’t think had a chance in the Senate.
For more on all of these stories, check out tonight’s episode of “Capital Tonight.” We’ll be joined by three members of the capitol press corps on our reporter roundtable: Jay Root with the Texas Tribune, Ben Philpott with KUT and Christy Hoppe with the Dallas Morning News. Then Gardner Selby with Politifact Texas and the Austin American-Statesman will fact-check recent comments by Rep. Garnet Coleman (D – TX House District 147) and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Tune in tonight at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Time Warner Cable News.
Daily Digest | April 23
Apr 23rd - 12:44 pm
Our Daily Digest is a lunchtime look at the stories we have our eyes on at the Capitol and beyond. Here’s what we are watching today:
After a reported boiling point between the “Big Three” first reported by Texas Monthly, all eyes are on a perceived divide between the leadership in the two chambers at the Capitol. Our Karina Kling will be looking into the political timetable for the Legislative leadership, and what it means for key bills heading into the last month of the session.
Two high-profile bills are on the list of legislation on the Senate’s agenda. Senate Bill 19, regarding prosecution of public corruption cases, is in the spotlight. The Quorum Report’s Harvey Kronberg told us on last night’s show that frustration is growing in the Governor’s Mansion over ethics reform, and this bill could be on its way to a veto if it remains in its watered-down form. The second bill, Senate Bill 185, is the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill. It would revoke state funding for police departments in those cities that do not ask detainees about their immigration status. The bill’s author says he wants to enforce immigration laws, while opponents say the bill would turn Texas into an anti-Latino “show me your papers” state, and would make the community less likely to cooperate with law enforcement.
We have two members of the House joining us on “Capital Tonight.” House Public Education Committee chairman, Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, whose school finance reform bill was sent to the full chamber earlier this week, will join the show to explain how he plans to fix the funding formula for Texas public schools. Then, the newest face in the lower chamber will join the show. Ina Minjarez won Tuesday’s House District 124 runoff election, and will take over the last open seat in the Legislature. We will talk to the representative-elect about the awkward timetable of coming into the session so late, and ask what she wants to accomplish for the city of San Antonio in the remaining days of the 84th Legislature.
All this, plus political strategists Harold Cook and Ted Delisi will give their takes on the week’s headlines on “Capital Tonight.” That’s at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Time Warner Cable News.
Daily Digest | April 21, 2015
Apr 21st - 12:34 pm
Our Daily Digest is a lunchtime look at the stories we have our eyes on at the Capitol and beyond. Here’s what we are watching today:
Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are the guests of honor at the unveiling of the new headquarters of the right-leaning think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation. The new six-floor building is located about two blocks from the Capitol grounds. Their speeches were followed by presentations from big-name donors like Red McCombs, Jim Henry and Dr. Jim Leininger.
The House Public Education Committee’s plan to fix the state’s school finance system is on its way to the full chamber. Committee Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock’s $3 billion dollar plan would increase funding for 94 percent of kids in the state, and would increase per-student funding to poorer districts more than it does wealthy ones. The bill passed out of committee on a 7-0 vote. It comes after massive cuts two sessions ago, and a court ruling that the current funding formula is unconstitutional. That ruling is now on appeal with the Texas Supreme Court.
The reactions to controversial bills approved in both chambers yesterday are still coming in. Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo voiced his opposition to an amendment to the House open carry bill. And public school advocacy group Raise Your Hand Texas released a cartoon video opposing the Senate’s school scholarship tax credit plan, which opponents call a back-door plan to school vouchers. The Quorum Report’s Harvey Kronberg talked about all this and more last night on our show, and you can watch that here.
And a lighthearded end of the day at the Capitol. The House Culture, Recreation and Tourism committee will meet to discuss proposals to name several state superlatives. That includes everything from the cowboy hat as the official hat to naming the western honey bee as the official State Pollinator of Texas.
On tonight’s episode of “Capital Tonight,” Texas Oil and Gas Association President Todd Staples joins the show. He’ll discuss the ban on local fracking regulations, and give us an update on the Texas oil and gas industry. Plus our Capital Commentators — political strategists Harold Cook and Ted Delisi — will give their take on the week’s headlines.
House Committee Lays Out School Finance Plan
Apr 7th - 6:31 pm
An overwhelming majority of Texas school districts would see more funding for students over the next two years if a House plan passes.
The chair of the House public education committee unveiled his school finance fix bill Tuesday, which would pour three billion extra dollars into classrooms. Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock said if his 13-part plan passes, he thinks the current lawsuit against the state over the way it funds public education would be dismissed.
“I think it does the right thing for kids and I think when people look at it, they’ll begin to see it,” said Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R – TX House District 54).
Rep. Aycock stressed the bill would increase funding for 94% of kids in the state, and would increase per-student funding to poorer districts more than it does wealthy ones.
“There’s some that are property wealthy, there’s some that are making less tax effort and then there’s that unfortunate few that we just haven’t been able to fix,” Rep. Aycock said.
Most of the plan involves boosting the so-called “basic allotment,” or formula funding. Aycock calls it the fairest of the distribution methods the state uses to divvy up dollars, and others agreed.
“Anytime the more people you have inside the formula, if the formula is done correctly, the better the system,” said Ray Freeman with the Equity Center.
For their part, AISD officials say they like what they see. AISD Board of Trustee Member Julie Cowan said, “By taking away a lot of these weights, small little measures and then putting it all into the basic allotment, it looks like AISD might receive some additional funding per student.”
Under the plan, Austin ISD, for example, would see its per-student funding levels rise 464 dollars in 2016 and 466 in 2017. But the plan to boost funding for these students faces an uphill climb with only two months left to get the Senate on board. Aycock says his committee will hear public testimony on his proposal next week.
To see how much money each school district would get in fiscal year 2016, click here.
To see how much money each school district would get in fiscal year 2017, click here.
Texas Supreme Court Agrees to Take Up School Finance Trial
Jan 23rd - 11:17 am
The state’s highest court will rule on whether the way Texas pays for public schools is unconstitutional. The Texas Supreme Court announced Friday it will hear the state’s sweeping school finance case.
More than 600 school districts sued the state back in 2011 after the legislature cut more than $5 billion in education funding. They argued budget cuts left them without the resources to meet academic standards, and said the gap between property-rich and property-poor school districts was too great. An Austin-based district judge ruled the cuts unconstitutional, but that ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court last year by then-Attorney General Greg Abbott.
Friday’s court advisory also set up the timeline for the next step in the case. In all, there will be about six months for both sides to file briefs and replies before a date for an oral argument is set. That means the decision won’t come until after the end of the legislative session. If the Texas Supreme Court upholds the unconstitutional ruling, the Legislature will have to come up with a new funding formula. That would require Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session.
Texas Candidates for Governor Respond to School Finance Ruling
Aug 28th - 4:26 pm
Any possible changes the Texas Legislature makes to the school finance system will happen under the watch of the next governor.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott is the current attorney general. His office represents the state in school finance litigation. Officially, his office said he would defend this law in court, just as he would any other law passed by the Legislature.
Later Thursday, his campaign released this statement:
“Our obligation is to improve education for our children rather than just doubling down on an outdated education system constructed decades ago. In my campaign for governor, I have proposed substantial improvements for our schools that will do a better job of educating Texans while spending tax dollars wisely. My plan will make Texas top-ranked in the nation for education by returning genuine local control to school districts, ensuring all children are reading and doing math at grade level by third grade, and graduating more students from high school than ever before.”
Sen. Wendy Davis is also weighing in on today’s ruling. She has long criticized the Legislature’s decision to slash $5.4 billion in school spending in 2011. In a statement Thursday, she said:
“Today is a victory for our schools, for the future of our state and for the promise of opportunity that’s at the core of who we are as Texans. The reality is clear and indefensible: insiders like Greg Abbott haven’t been working for our schools; they’ve been actively working against them. Abbott has been in court for years, defending overcrowded classrooms, teacher layoffs and public-school closings, and today, Judge John Dietz ruled against him. This ruling underscores the crucial need to invest in education and reminds us of just how much our schools, teachers and students have had to sacrifice over the past three years just to get by.”
Judge Declares School Finance System Unconstitutional, Again
Aug 28th - 2:35 pm
State District Judge John Dietz has once again ruled that the state’s school finance system is unconstitutional. The decision comes six months after the second phase of the trial wrapped up in Austin.
The case stems from 2011, when the Texas legislature cut more than $5 billion in education funding. More than 600 school districts sued, arguing the budget cuts left them without the resources to meet academic standards. They also said the gap between property rich schools and poor property districts was too great.
In a verbal ruling last year, Judge Dietz agreed. He reopened the case, however, after lawmakers restored about $3.5 billion and cut testing requirements during the 2013 session. Today, Dietz reaffirmed that the “Robin Hood” system of property tax sharing doesn’t allocate money fairly among school districts.
The state is expected to appeal this ruling to the Texas Supreme Court. If it’s upheld, the Legislature will have to come up with a new funding formula.
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