Spinning the Wheels, Stuck in 1st Gear
News8Austin: School finance decision reached
The Texas Supreme Court ruled 7-1 Tuesday that local property taxes to finance public schools amount to an unconstitutional statewide tax.The justices have given the state until June 1, 2006, to fix the problem. The date gives the Legislature more time to pass a new finance plan before funding for schools would be blocked.
"The Legislature's decision to rely so heavily on local property taxes to fund public education does not itself violate any provision of the Texas Constitution," the opinion said. It’s how it’s being done that the court doesn't like.
I predict this will help increase the pressure for a Texas income tax to pay for public education.
The court ruled that ad valorem school taxes have become a de facto state property tax, a violation of the Texas Constitution. The current system has the state taking money raised from local schools, through property taxes, and then divides the money among "property-poor" districts.
And boy do the "rich" school districts not like Robin Hood.
Point out that this is different from taxing me and giving my money to someone else, however, and the stares you'll get will be empty indeed.
The justices noted in their opinion that Texas has a long history of difficulty with financing public schools.Copyright ©2005TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin
Texas shouldn't be financing public school education. Individuals have that responsibility, whether expressed through monthly payments to a professional education institution, homeschooling, inexpensive community education programs, or the many other ways to teach people.