Category Archives: School Finance

Texas School Finance Primer

Posted on October 20, 2011 by

The month of October hosts Halloween. That may make October the ideal month to blog about the Texas Public School System. Here are three sites you can to visit to learn more about public school funding and relevant issues surrounding … Continue reading →

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Please Sue Us Soon (Part III)

Posted on October 19, 2011 by

This is the third and final blog in a three-part series titled, “Please Sue Us Soon.” Texas now has three school finance lawsuits in various stages of development. In all likelihood, School Districts will prevail on one litigation point, if … Continue reading →

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Please Sue Us Soon (Part II)

Posted on October 18, 2011 by

This is the second blog in a three part series titled, “Please Sue Us Soon.” The title came by a message from a state representative to Mr. David Thompson, a well-known school finance litigator, during the 82nd Legislative Session. In … Continue reading →

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Please Sue Us Soon.

Posted on October 16, 2011 by

In 2006, the Texas Legislature created a K-12 public school funding system that was perpetually underfunded. The underfunding can be referred to as a structural deficit – a planned gap where there will never be enough funding to cover expenditures. … Continue reading →

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Fair: Equity and Adequacy

Posted on October 4, 2011 by

One Texas-based, school support organization is preparing to sue the State of Texas over its policies and practices for funding K-12 public schools. That organization wants “fair funding for all Texas taxpayers and students.” Right now, per student funding for … Continue reading →

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School Finance: Let’s Not Forget The Promise

Posted on June 20, 2011 by

In 2006, the Texas State Legislature began the process to lower school property taxes. Local school districts receive a portion of their revenue from local property taxes. A drop in school property taxes can mean a loss in revenue. The … Continue reading →

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Structural Deficit: Planned Pain

Posted on February 17, 2011 by

The State of Texas has a budget problem. Part of the problem is something called a structural deficit. In an earlier blog at this site (A Budgetary Frankenstein), Abby Rapoport’s (The Structural Deficit Theme) definition of a structural deficit was … Continue reading →

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A Budgetary Frankenstein

Posted on February 3, 2011 by

Texas designed a K12 public school funding system where revenue can not keep up with expenditures. It is a Budgetary Frankenstein with a technical name: structural deficit. What is a structural deficit? The Texas Tribune (Tripedia: 2011 Budget Shortfall) describes … Continue reading →

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A Financial Storm

Posted on January 30, 2011 by

During the winter months, I pay close attention to the weather forecasts. Snow or ice storms before or during a school day can create conditions in which adjustments to the school schedule – delayed start, early release, or cancellation – … Continue reading →

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State of the State’s Finances

Posted on October 26, 2010 by

Ouch! might be a good way to start this blog because it looks like Texas’ budgeting process for the next biennium is going to painful – painful for those who set the budget and painful for those of us in … Continue reading →

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