June 3, 2011
For the past few months, the media has laid out and sensationalized the worst case scenarios regarding the projected school budget cuts, causing the entire state to descend into a full-fledged panic. But, as it turns out, those budget cuts are not nearly as bad as previously predicted. The house and senate recently agreed on a school budget that will fund our schools, just as the state’s constitution requires.
Districts are breathing a sigh of relief now that we all know that the budget for next year will only be reduced about 3% for each district. Districts say this reduction is an amount they can handle. Districts will further attempt to close that 3% gap by spending from their own rainy day funds as well as raising local property taxes.
“This is a significant improvement from where we started,” said Rep. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills. “I think the local districts will be very pleased at where we’ve come since the beginning.”
Remember that we said we have confidence and to hold on to your dream of teaching because Texas must have teachers!