The latest school finance news from The Texas Tribune.
Most Texas school districts would see increased funding under proposed changes to the state's public education funding system, House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, said Tuesday. Full Story
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State coffers are flush with cash, but local governments are continuing to borrow heavily to provide services. State legislators have filed more than a dozen bills aimed at how cities, counties and school districts can borrow money. Full Story
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At our 2/12 conversation, state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, talked about the need to fix the state's method of school finance. Full Story
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The House’s chief budget writer on Thursday praised a proposal to overhaul the school finance system by grouping the state’s 1,026 regular school districts into a few "school finance districts" — a tax move aimed at equalizing per-student funding statewide. Full Story
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Giving both sides time to file briefs and responses will tie up the school finance lawsuit for at least another six months. Then come oral arguments, and the case could easily stretch into next year. Full Story
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At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about possible legislation to redesign the state's school finance system. Full Story
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Full video of my 1/22 conversation with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, says Texas lawmakers shouldn't wait for the outcome of a sprawling school finance lawsuit to discuss changes to the state's public education funding system. Full Story
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A new governor who touts public schools as a top priority and plenty of money in the state bank account don’t mean everything will go smoothly as the 84th Legislature navigates public education policy. Full Story
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In our 12/4 conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about the possibility of greater funding in the 84th session for public and higher education. Full Story
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A state audit released Friday found weak oversight and some conflicts of interests at school districts that approve large property tax breaks for businesses. Full Story
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At our 10/2 Triblive conversation, Kathie Glass, the Libertarian Party nominee for Texas Governor in 2014, argued the state spends too much on public education. Full Story
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UPDATED: Attorney General Greg Abbott will appeal a ruling that the Texas school finance system is unconstitutional, according to a notice his office sent Friday to attorneys in the case. The appeal is set to go directly to the Texas Supreme Court. Full Story
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Moody's Investors Service described a judge's declaration of the state's school finance system as unconstitutional as a “credit positive,” saying the ruling would compel Texas lawmakers to “redesign the school finance system.” Full Story
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Hey, Texplainer: I know the state plans to appeal a judge's recent decision that Texas' school finance system is unconstitutional. But what will the state's defense be moving forward? Full Story
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Texas school districts will have accumulated a legal tab of over $8.5 million in the course of challenging the state's school finance system — a sum that the state will have to pay if they prevail. Full Story
Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said Wednesday that her GOP opponent, Dan Patrick, was “rewriting history” by taking credit for the restoration of some education funding cuts. Patrick's campaign hit back at the criticism. Full Story
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As candidates in the general election focus on making themselves known to voters, the latest school finance ruling provides their clearest marching orders yet. Full Story
The problem with trying to lower property taxes at the state level is that the taxpayers — voters — often do not see the benefits. Full Story
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The state of Texas does not levy a property tax, but state lawmakers would like to lower property tax bills anyway — a quest that could take them into school finance or into relief for some taxpayers at the expense of others. Full Story