School’s Run Deficits While Texas Lege Fights

The bitter infighting in the Texas Legislature has schools across the state sweating huge deficits as they wait for lawmakers to push forward.

The state has a record $32 billion surplus currently, and some of that money is definitely going to be spent on Texas schools. . .eventually. The problem is that the House and Senate are locked in a war over property tax reform that has ground progress to a halt. To put pressure on legislators, Governor Greg Abbott vetoed many necessary bills until after the property tax argument was settled.

In addition, bills that would boost the basic allotment per student for Texas schools have their own rancorous row going on. Abbott and other far-right Texas Republicans are pushing to institute a school voucher system that would let parents use public money to send their children to private, mostly religious schools. The effort has been blocked by rural Republicans in the lower chamber, leaving the allotment increase stalled.

To view the full story, visit https://www.reformaustin.org/education/schools-run-deficits-while-texas-lege-fights/