San Antonio May Seek Tax to Support Full-Day Pre-K
Since Texas lawmakers cut over $200 million in grants that supported full-day public prekindergarten in 2011, school districts have worked to fill in where the state left off.
They have started to charge tuition or to eliminate other programs in favor of keeping the full-day programs alive. Now, in what appears to be an unprecedented move in the state, a Texas city is looking to take direct action to support such pre-K programs.
Mayor Julián Castro of San Antonio is asking voters for a sales tax increase of one-eighth of a cent to fund full-day pre-K, primarily for low-income ...
Comments (12)
David Spratt
Good for them. I applaud their efforts. The only thing I would suggest is that they increase the tax by another % of a cent and cut the state out altogether. About time some folks started figuring out how to do things on their own without turning to the government. It looks like they have made it about halfway there. If they collect this money there , it will be used there. I hope this mentality spreads further.If you do not take state or federal funds you should be able to do things your way without them telling you how to spend it. What a concept,,,,, being able to spend my own money without someone telling me how to do it !!! Who would have ever thought of it?
Lisa Ahrlett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
There is absolutely no way that the massive bureaucracy that will have to be created to support this mess will cost people $8 a year. I call BS.
Cheryl LaDue via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I have no problem with that philosophy. I just don't trust the government's process of distribution of my money.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If the Texas legislature had done there job and funded education, there would be no need for this initiative.
Dolores Hernandez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gripe gripe gripe. Are few cents for benefit of underprivileged kids and eventually our society worth hate gripes? NO!'
Audrey Fisher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Let's connect a couple of dots: San Antonio has been very successful in getting help to Small Businesses. The more that we see gain momentum, the more jobs and more income to families. With that, no one should complain except the small cadre who will call it "unconstitutional". Growing SA is great news. $8.00/year, I can afford that and support this endeavor to keep this city growing and vibrant.
Harmony Edwards via Texas Tribune on Facebook
With our state government consistently cutting education funding what are cities and school districts to do? The dollars have to come from somewhere! Private pre-kinder where we live is on average $850 per month plus supply fees. Thankfully we can manage that but many families cannot. We have GOT to start taking proactive steps to make our children's education more of a priority and stop burying our heads in the sand hoping that everything will work itself out.
Sonora Hartley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This will generate millions of dollars for the non profit that is undoubtedly being formed to run this boondoggle. High drop out rates, youth crime, remedial classes and functional literacy have skyrocketed since we've had that other boondoggle that makes millions of dollars for the corporations and non profits that run it, Head Start. And I won't talk about the fraud and scams that will be run. This will cost way more than $8/yr per family. These children will need transportation not only for school but also medical care. They will need 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. They will need supplies and matching school clothes. Their parents will often need money for rent, utilities and food. We will have to pay for additional childcare for the parents that work early and late shifts. This will ultimately be yet another very expensive feeding and childcare program that will have no positive effect on literacy, dropout rates, teen pregnancy, or the need for remedial classes because all of that must start in the home no later than birth. I have no problem feeding hungry children or providing them a safe, clean and mentally stimulating environment but don't try to pull the wool over my eyes about the motivation and goals.
Sheri Alexander via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Harmony Edwards nailed it. EDUCATION IS A PRIORITY. we will and almost are a Nation of fat dumb people if we continue the cuts in the places the GOP keeps making them. Specially after reading THAT RIDICULOUS TX GOP PLATFORM makes me downright genuinely ashamed to be a Texan after reading parts of that.
Andrew Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook
We cannot pay $7.81 in taxes but we can subsidize oil companies making record profits. These people are insane.
Liz Theiss
Supporting Third World Invasion is a costly hobby. i recommend home-schooling for American citizens and let the MX. govt and libs pick up the tab.
richard kidwell
I would generally support restoring the pre-K program through this small tax. The only thing that bothered me in the article was this:
" It has already attracted scrutiny by some members in terms of how the city would finance the construction of the training centers "
Why do training centers need to be built? My impression was that this was to restore programs that had been cut because of withdrawal of state funding. There are already plenty of school buildings and the administrative structure is in place with existing school districts.