School districts lost a court case that could have forced the state to reform its school finance system, and federal officials toured Texas to investigate claims that special education services were arbitrarily capped.
school finance
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Why rising property values don’t lower school taxes
Rising property values in Texas should have lowered school property tax rates. But they didn’t, and you can thank the folks who write the state budget for that.
Posted in
Public Education
Analysis: The state’s declining support for public education in Texas
Had the state kept its share of school funding constant for the past 10 years, voters might not be griping about rising property taxes. The state is spending more than it used to, but it’s spending less per student.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: The challenge of making a property tax cut pitch pay off in Texas
It’s hard to get property tax relief out of a state government that does not levy a property tax. But it’s tempting turf for politicians in Texas, and they’re going to try again when they meet in January.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Take it from Texas — an election sweep carries no guarantee
Winning isn’t everything when it comes to party control. If it was, Texas lawmakers would have nothing to do. But they still have plenty to fight about, and Republicans in Washington, D.C., will, too.
Posted in
Health care
Houston schools measure lags, Austin transit bond leads
Harris County elected a Democratic district attorney, Houston ISD voters thumbed their noses at the Texas school finance system and Austin voters backed a $720 million transportation bond.
Posted in
Politics
Abbott, Patrick disagree on special session for school funding
Gov. Greg Abbott turned down Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s suggestion that he call a special session to overhaul school funding.
Posted in
Economy
Dallas County sees cluster of competitive Texas House races
Four Republican incumbents in North Texas are fighting off Democratic challengers in what could be some of November’s closest contests.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas House committee digging in heels for school voucher fight
In a bipartisan sparring match, members of the House Public Education Committee challenged proponents of using taxpayer dollars — or tax breaks — to help parents send their kids to private or parochial schools.
Posted inState Government
A conversation with Price and Smithee (video)
Full video of my 10/4 conversation with state Reps. Four Price, R-Amarillo, and John Smithee, R-Amarillo, on the campus of Amarillo College.
