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Analyses in the rearview mirror: School finance and property taxes

by Ross Ramsey Dec. 28, 2017 12:01 AM

<h1>Analyses in the rearview mirror: School finance and property taxes</h1>

By <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a>, The Texas Tribune
 <time class="byline--item" datetime="Thu, 28 Dec 2017 00:01:00 -0600"
 title="2017-12-28 00:01">Dec. 28, 2017</time>

<div class="content">
 "<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/12/28/analyses-rearview-mirror-school-finance-and-property-taxes/">Analyses in the rearview mirror: School finance and property taxes</a>" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

Editor's note: If you'd like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey's column, click <a href="http://texastribune.us3.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db&id=d9a68d8efc">here</a>.
Texas legislators have been wrestling with school finance for decades, most recently balancing state and local financing for public schools more than a decade ago. Since then, the state’s share of the total per student cost has dropped, and the local share has risen to cover that — and then some.
In turn, school property taxes account for more than half of the average property tax bill. Rising property taxes are a top complaint of voters — one the state’s officeholders hear clearly and hope to resolve.
The problem? That forces them to choose from a list of unpopular options: Higher state taxes, higher local property taxes or cuts to public education. It’s hard to do, as you can see from the scant results.

Here’s a sampling of columns tracking the debates over school finance and property taxes in 2017:
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/13/analysis-texas-budget-writers-treasure-school-tax-/">Analysis: Texas budget writers treasure that school tax you hate</a> (Jan. 13, 2017)</li>
</ul>
In the midst of all the gloomy state budget news, this stuck out like a gold nugget in a cow patty: Rising property values in the state’s school districts translate into higher local tax revenue, cutting the state's obligation to education.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/13/analysis-texas-makes-do-broken-legal-school-finance-system/">Analysis: Texas makes do with broken but legal school finance system</a> (Feb. 13, 2017)</li>
</ul>
It’s a confusing time in school finance, with a maelstrom of local and state governments trying to master a byzantine system that is faltering in every way but the most important one: The courts say it's broken, but constitutionally sound.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/04/10/analysis-state-school-finance-system-can-choke-citys-growth/">Analysis: A state school finance system that can choke a city’s growth</a> (April 10, 2017)</li>
</ul>
A state that wants to grow by freeing economic engines from regulations and taxes is throttling its cities and school districts with regulations and taxes.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/04/14/analysis-taxes-texas-school-districts-are-afraid-cut/">Analysis: The taxes Texas school districts are afraid to cut</a> (April 14, 2017)</li>
</ul>
A state law that's supposed to keep a leash on school tax increases might be preventing temporary tax breaks in the Texas districts with the highest tax rates. But reversing it could make it easier to raise taxes.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/14/analysis-broken-school-finance-system-spawns-wild-solutions/">Analysis: Broken school finance system spawns wild solutions</a> (Aug. 14, 2017)</li>
</ul>
In Austin — the poster child for property tax recapture in Texas right now — the school district is telling taxpayers they’ll be sending $2.6 billion to the state over the next five years. That's inspiring some crazy ideas.

<aside>
 Read related Tribune coverage
 <ul>
 
 <li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/19/analysis-property-tax-relief-doesnt-equal-extra-money-your-pocket/">Analysis: Property tax relief doesn’t equal extra money in your pocket</a></li>
 
 <li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/17/whos-blame-your-raising-property-taxes-heres-what-texans-think/">Who’s to blame for your rising property taxes? Here’s what Texans think</a></li>
 
 <li><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/04/hey-texplainer-why-cant-we-create-statewide-property-tax-fund-public-e/">Hey, Texplainer: Why can't we create a statewide property tax to fund public education?</a></li>
 
 </ul>
</aside>

</div>

</article>

This article originally appeared in <a href="http://www.texastribune.org/">The Texas Tribune</a> at <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/12/28/analyses-rearview-mirror-school-finance-and-property-taxes/">https://www.texastribune.org/2017/12/28/analyses-rearview-mirror-school-finance-and-property-taxes/</a>.
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Analyses in the rearview mirror: School finance and property taxes
                    By Ross Ramsey
                    December 28, 2017

Editor's note: If you'd like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey's column, click here.

Texas legislators have been wrestling with school finance for decades, most recently balancing state and local financing for public schools more than a decade ago. Since then, the state’s share of the total per student cost has dropped, and the local share has risen to cover that — and then some.

In turn, school property taxes account for more than half of the average property tax bill. Rising property taxes are a top complaint of voters — one the state’s officeholders hear clearly and hope to resolve.

The problem? That forces them to choose from a list of unpopular options: Higher state taxes, higher local property taxes or cuts to public education. It’s hard to do, as you can see from the scant results.

Here’s a sampling of columns tracking the debates over school finance and property taxes in 2017:

Analysis: Texas budget writers treasure that school tax you hate (Jan. 13, 2017)

In the midst of all the gloomy state budget news, this stuck out like a gold nugget in a cow patty: Rising property values in the state’s school districts translate into higher local tax revenue, cutting the state's obligation to education.

Analysis: Texas makes do with broken but legal school finance system (Feb. 13, 2017)

It’s a confusing time in school finance, with a maelstrom of local and state governments trying to master a byzantine system that is faltering in every way but the most important one: The courts say it's broken, but constitutionally sound.

Analysis: A state school finance system that can choke a city’s growth (April 10, 2017)

A state that wants to grow by freeing economic engines from regulations and taxes is throttling its cities and school districts with regulations and taxes.

Analysis: The taxes Texas school districts are afraid to cut (April 14, 2017)

A state law that's supposed to keep a leash on school tax increases might be preventing temporary tax breaks in the Texas districts with the highest tax rates. But reversing it could make it easier to raise taxes.

Analysis: Broken school finance system spawns wild solutions (Aug. 14, 2017)

In Austin — the poster child for property tax recapture in Texas right now — the school district is telling taxpayers they’ll be sending $2.6 billion to the state over the next five years. That's inspiring some crazy ideas.

Read related Tribune coverage

Analysis: Property tax relief doesn’t equal extra money in your pocket
Who’s to blame for your rising property taxes? Here’s what Texans think
Hey, Texplainer: Why can't we create a statewide property tax to fund public education?

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