Abbott stayed on message about education and taxes, and touched on school safety, disaster response and mental health programs.
school finance
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Texas government is often entertaining, but it’s not all show business
Property taxes and school finance — the top two priorities of state leaders this legislative session — aren’t the sorts of issues that fire up political partisans. Sometimes, lawmakers are just trying to do some work.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Something’s missing from the opening bid for property tax “relief” in Texas
The property tax legislation unveiled by state leaders this week carries an implicit promise — that local school districts will get more state money — but doesn’t say where that money might come from.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Many see “Robin Hood” as a villain. But lawmakers rely on it to pay for schools.
Even outspoken critics of the controversial program that redistributes money among school districts, acknowledge that they need it to avoid future school-finance lawsuits.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: The Texas comptroller’s new “pesky chart”
In a new report, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar says the state should cover 40 percent of the cost of public education — and should cover the costs of inflation, too.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Will Texas’ attempt to shake up school finance lead to higher stakes for standardized tests?
The idea of tying a portion of funding to test scores appeals to some who want to improve student performance, but it enrages educators who say it will encourage teaching to the test.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Property taxes in Texas are high. Don’t expect the Legislature to change that.
Texas leaders are promising property tax relief during this year’s legislative session. It’s unlikely that will lower your taxes, but it might slow future increases.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: At the top of Texas government, three-part harmony
The state’s top leaders have been saying for weeks that they are in sync, and here’s the surprise: Their initial proposals look like they are actually in sync.
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Politics
Texas House proposes massive increase for public school funding
The proposed budget would increase state funds for education by about 17 percent but cut funding for health and human services by about 3 percent.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Big things can happen in Texas without court orders, sometimes
It usually takes a court order to move Texas lawmakers to make big changes to major programs like school finance. But it’s possible, if top leaders are united, to go big without a judicial push.
