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Joe’s Commentary: December 11 Meeting of Texas Commission on Public School Finance
I watched the Texas Commission on Public School Finance - yes, the entire 6 hours - and have marked my calendar for the next meeting, December 19 at 10 a.m.If you wish to participate in the upcoming legislative debate on school funding this is the place to start. Remember, the last
legislative session created the commission to find solutions to our state’s badly broken school funding system.
The commission has spent the past year examining our current experience funding Texas Public Schools. The discussions often appeared awkward because property taxes were discussed as well and at times it was difficult to determine the driving force - property taxes or school finance.
Many hours of testimony were heard that included handouts of charts and tables. Yesterday’s meeting included reviewing the commission’s 29 recommendations to the legislature. Chairman Brister took a cautious attitude, often redirecting the group when it strayed away from what he saw as its purpose or something that would cause legal problems going forward. The governor’s plan, not a part of the commission’s recommendations, would cap property taxes at 2.5 percent per year.
- Going forward: Watch the meeting
- The handouts for this meeting are on the Commission website
- Agenda Texas Commission on Public School Finance and Handouts
- Agenda
- Potential Revenue Items (PDF)
- Summary of Three Plans - Dec 11 2018 (Excel)
- Summary of Three Plans - Dec 11 2018 (PDF)
- Final Texas Public School Finance Commission Report (PDF)
- Proposals J and L School Finance Commission 12.11.18 (PDF)
- Note: No public testimony will be taking at this meeting.
- Agenda Texas Commission on Public School Finance and Handouts
- The handouts for this meeting are on the Commission website
- I suggest you review the handouts above before starting the meeting. There are places where it is hard to determine which document they are discussing.
- Also, note the following post from the Quorum Report related to this meeting:
- Other members of the commission, such as Texas House Public Education Committee Chairman Dan Huberty, R-Kingwood, said he would refuse the sign the report without a recommendation for new money in the school finance system.
- Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, said he would have wasted 11 months on the commission if the discussion didn’t include new dollars for public education.
This meeting was the first review of the draft report - The final vote is expected on the 19th. - js - webmaster@texasisd.com