- Since 2008, the State’s level of funding per student has decreased $339 per student (when adjusting for enrollment growth) and $795 per student (when adjusted for enrollment growth and inflation).
- The State’s share of funding education from All Funds has decreased from 44.9% in 2008 to 38.4% in 2017 while local property tax dollars to fund public education have increased from 44.8% in 2008 to 55.1% in 2017.
- The State is using property value growth and/or recaptured funds from local school property taxes to fund other state priorities outside of education.
- The use of recaptured funds is out of control and is contributing toward the state’s over-reliance on local property taxes. More districts must pay recapture each year, and it is not a sustainable funding mechanism.
Additional Resources
- Taxparency Position Statement
- School Funding History 2008-2017
- Taxparency presentation
- Property Tax Relief and Transparency in Taxation School Board Resolution examples
- Property Tax Statement explanation examples
- State Hidden Property Tax example
Plano ISD’s message to legislators about Taxparency
- LBB Fiscal Size Up Report for 2016-17 LBB Fiscal Size Up Report for 2016-17
- Figure 169 Pre-K-12 Public Education Funding in Real & Constant Dollars, Fiscal Years 2008-2017
- State Aid Per Student, Fiscal Years 2008-2017 (source: Figure 169)
- State Aid vs Local Funding Levels, Fiscal Years 2008-2017 (source: Figure 169)
- Figure 170 Major Foundation School Program Cost Drivers & Legislative Actions, 2016-17 Biennium
- Figure 172 State and Local Foundation School Program Funding & State Share Percentage, Fiscal Years 2005-2017
- Figure 169 Pre-K-12 Public Education Funding in Real & Constant Dollars, Fiscal Years 2008-2017
- Action Alert Message
- Media references:
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: Texas budget writers treasure that school tax you hate,” January 13, 2017
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: Why rising property values don’t lower school taxes,” December 14, 2016
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: State’s declining support for public education in Texas” , December 12, 2016
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: The challenge of making a property tax pitch pay off in Texas”, December 9, 2016
Community Impact: “Plano ISD seeks transparency for ‘Robin Hood’ funding”, November 23, 2016
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: High property taxes start in Austin, not in school districts”, October 24, 2016
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: Rising local school property taxes ease state budget woes”, October 21, 2016
Community Impact: “Plano ISD trustees want to be included in rising property values discussion”, October 19, 2016
Texas Tribune: “Analysis: A game of chicken: between Texas, its biggest school district”, September 26, 2016