By the end of the 2023 school year, Shipp reports, the three Texas schools had a $2.68 million deficit. According to Shipp’s report, more than $25 million public tax dollars were being spent on the three Texas schools, but only about $15.6 million was being spent on teachers and supplies, and the other $10 million went to "management and general" expenses like admin salaries and benefits, admin support costs, professional services and other operating services.
Black Lives definitely Matter Lorini!
Also: There are three ways to not tell the truth: lies, damned lies, and statistics.
For the first time, the Comptroller’s office, in the 2024-25 Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE), projects that the ESF in 2025 will hit the upper limit on its balance, which in each biennium can be no more than 10 percent of the amount of certain revenue deposited into the General Revenue Fund during the previous biennium. Comptroller Glenn Hegar, whose BRE sets parameters for the state budget, stresses the responsibility that goes along with unique funding opportunities.
"You'll be shocked to hear this, but it's not me that's responsible for this," Abbott said. "Almost every school district in the state of Texas, as well as across the United States, is facing that very same problem for reasons completely unrelated to the state of Texas. The reason why they have a budget shortfall is because, the last couple of budgets they had, they had an incredible amount of money given to them by the federal government in the post-COVID years."
Texas House Democrats are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special legislative session to increase public school funding as districts around the state grapple with budget deficits in the millions.
Abbott instead blasted the lawmakers for their opposition to legislation last year that he said would have increased education funding but became mired in the governor's controversial signature priority — a school voucher proposal — that divided Texas House Republicans.
