Some great sites on school funding

[Maestro]

As a teacher and a parent, I am deeply concerned with school. I place the blame firmly on politicians. Since 1993 state funding as dwindled from 60% to 38% while the State keeps demanding more and more from local districts. The State has dropped the ball and the repuklican controlled government and all but ignored this issue. But now it must since a judge has declared the state funding system unconstitutional.

Here are some great sites with some facts on funding.

http://www.texans4fairfunding.org/index.html

http://www.idra.org/alerts/dietz.htm

[Maestro]

1. This really is the reason

for the steep rise in property taxes because districts must raise income since the State refuses to fund it at appropriate levels. Also, it leads to severe inequalities in poor districts even with Robin Hood. I'm all for doing away with the property taxes and just having a state income tax dedicated to education.

[Wright Patman]

2. Be honest

You know that's not going to happen.

Texas voted in a constitutional prohibition of an income tax at the request of the late Bob Bullock (who only a few years before that was campaigning vociferously for an income tax) more than 10 years ago.

I would wager (and Rick Perry will tax that wager) that more than half the people who have moved to Texas in the past 20 years moved here because it has no income tax. In most areas of the state, it sure ain't the scenery that's luring them here.

[Maestro]

3. I didn't say it was likely

but I would still be for it. Something has to be done though. The current funding is crap! First the state needs to raise its level of funding, then they can debate how to make the rest districts level as far as local funds.