Analysis: Property tax relief — but not for all Texas taxpayers
Giving every property owner in Texas a significant tax cut is expensive, but there are less ambitious plans under consideration along with the big ones. Full Story
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Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate advances bill to shore up teacher pension fund
The bill would increase state, school district and teacher contributions to the fund, and provide a one-time additional check for retirees. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas lawmakers will obviously need a special session, right? Not so fast.
Halfway through the session, the Capitol's hallways are full of talk of a special session on school finance and property taxes. That won't happen — unless the Legislature makes a mess of the time it's got left. Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen and state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, with other House members hold a press conference to announce their school finance bill on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Texas House panel advances school finance bill but removes merit pay provision
The $9 billion bill has more than 100 co-sponsors in the House but will need to be reconciled with Senate proposals. Full Story
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![Chairman of the House Public Education Committee and State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, hears public testimonies during the House Public Education Committee meeting on March 12, 2019.]()
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Analysis: Asking Texas voters to swap higher sales taxes for property tax cuts
Texas voters told candidates they want property tax relief, and it's remarkably expensive. That's why state lawmakers are talking about higher sales taxes. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, discusses public education at an event moderated by Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith in Austin on March 14, 2019. Huberty is chairman of the House Public Education Committee.]()
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Texas Senate unveils its first version of a school finance reform bill
The bill is part of a series of proposals designed to slow property tax growth and fix how the state pays for its schools. Full Story
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![Senate Education Committee Chariman and state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, during a committee meeting on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is the "Kumbaya" phase of the legislative session over?
On this week’s TribCast, Aman talks to Evan, Aliyya and Alexa about the teacher pay and school finance proposals circulating in the Texas Lege, the latest finger-pointing over the voter citizenship review and the pushback Beto O’Rourke might face in a Democratic presidential field. Full Story
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Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas teacher pay emerges as a sticking point between House and Senate
The Senate is proposing $5,000 raises for each teacher and librarian. The House is calling for raising minimum salaries and increasing benefits. Full Story
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![Speaker Dennis Bonnen and state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, with other House members hold a press conference to announce their school finance bill on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Texas House bill would put $9 billion into school finance reform and property tax relief
Members of the Texas House received their first look at the soon-to-be-filed proposal in a one-page summary circulating around the Texas Capitol Monday afternoon. Full Story
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![Rep. Dan Huberty R-Houston speaks to media after the House concurs on school finance bill on August 15, 2017]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott raves about Dallas' teacher incentive pay program. But it's hard to replicate.
Dallas ISD spearheaded a program that floods its low-performing schools with the best resources, including highly rated educators who get paid large stipends. Lawmakers want to see it expanded. Full Story
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![Natasha Boone high fives a student as they went over a story the class was reading Jan. 14, 2019 at Edward Titche Elementary School in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas*.]()
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Texans want voter approval of property tax hikes, says UT/TT Poll
Texans want local governments to get permission for property tax hikes over a set amount and don't think such a restriction would hobble services, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Photo Illustration by Jeff Heimsath / Emily Albracht for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate panel advances $5,000 teacher pay raise proposal
The bill, which would cost $3.9 billion, received unanimous support from the Senate Finance Committee. Full Story
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![State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, asks questions during a Senate Finance Committee hearing at the state Capitol on October 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Educators have been skeptical of Dan Patrick. Will they support his teacher pay raise plan?
The Texas lieutenant governor is proposing across-the-board $5,000 raises for teachers. It's a seismic shift for a lawmaker who spent the last legislative session backing proposals educators revile. Full Story
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![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick address the crowd at the Oath of Office Ceremony at the capitol grounds. Jan. 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Teachers, tell us your thoughts about the Texas Legislature's proposed $5,000 pay raises
Texas lawmakers are considering a proposal that would increase teacher pay by $5,000. We want to talk to teachers about their salaries. Full Story
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![Coleman High School physics and computer science teacher Gary Strickland goes over classroom rules on the first day of school on Aug. 23, 2017. Strickland is a finalist for TASA's secondary teacher of the year award.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Democrats lay out their priorities for Texas school finance as lawmakers await leadership-endorsed bill
The Texas House Democratic Caucus is calling for a $14.5 billion package that includes all-day pre-K, teacher raises and property tax relief. Full Story
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Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Property taxes, school finance, data centers and a state senator's bid to redefine a crime
On this week’s TribCast, Ross talks to Emma, Aliyya and Edgar about Sen. Angela Paxton's controversial bill that could impact her husband, efforts to get property tax legislation passed, a status check on the promised school finance bill and bidding out the state's data storage to private companies. Full Story
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![Angela Paxton kisses her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, at her primary election night watch party in Allen on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas' school finance system is unpopular and complex. Here's how it works.
Average Texans and lawmakers alike are going back to the basics on school finance, as the state Legislature prepares to tackle a longstanding challenge. Full Story
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![Tatum Roberts (left) and Olivia Mah work on their toothpick cubes in Melanie Martin's kindergarten class at Johnston-McQueen Elementary.]()
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The state of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items: Will property tax and school finance get reformed?
The governor has laid out his legislative priorities. In our latest "Under the Dome" episode, we look at the challenges lawmakers face in addressing the issues of property taxes and school finance. Full Story
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Analysis: Here’s your property tax cut, maybe. Heads up — it’s expensive.
A new proposal to cut school property taxes in Texas perfectly outlines the political problem facing lawmakers: It's terribly expensive, and other taxes have to be raised to pay for it. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Springer at his desk on the House floor on Feb. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The challenge of reining in property taxes at no cost to schools
A Texas Senate committee is moving rapidly to require voter approval for local property tax increases over 2.5 percent. But some want to see the Legislature's school finance bill before they vote on property taxes. Full Story
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![Property Tax committee Chairman and state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, during the Senate Property Tax Committee Hearing on on Feb. 6, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune
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