EQUITY CENTER  Advocating School Finance Equity & Adequacy in Texas
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Editorial: Depleting reserves a bad idea for Fort Worth school district
With $55 million, the Fort Worth school district can operate for a little more than a month. But the Texas Education Agency advises districts to keep at least two months' worth of operating funds in savings in case of an emergency. Without adequate reserves, a school district could be forced to borrow money to pay its bills -- an expensive proposition that shouldn't happen if it's avoidable. That's why it's reasonable for Fort Worth school officials to talk about a financial emergency even though the district has more than $100 million in the bank.

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Equity Center

   Today is Thursday, March 11, 2010   

**WHO REPRESENTS ME?**    HOUSE       SENATE

RICHARDSON ISD HAS FIGURE IN MIND FOR STARTING TEACHER PAY: $45,800

Dallas Morning News
Monday, March 01, 2010
The Richardson school district let slip a secret recently: its proposed starting salaries for next year's new teachers. While the number isn't as hush-hush as, say, the recipe for Coke, it's not a topic that North Texas school districts are shouting about. Competition can be fierce for new teachers, and many districts like to watch what others do before floating a pay figure.
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Senate panel gets stark forecast on school finances

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Monday, February 22, 2010
AUSTIN -- School officials and education groups presented lawmakers with a somber picture Monday of rising costs and shrinking revenue, adding to the mounting budget pressures facing state officials in advance of next year's legislative session.
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Decling enrollment takes toll on rural school districts

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Frenship and Lubbock-Cooper are up - by a lot. Plainview and Brownfield are down. Shallowater is up, and Slaton is down. . . . "The enrollment and average daily attendance have a direct effect on the amount of money school districts receive from the state,"
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Budget mess got going with 2006 property tax cuts

Austin American Statesman
Thursday, February 18, 2010
A picture of how the state could look after a budget shortfall hits next year is starting to emerge... The economic downturn isn't helping the shortfall, but it's not driving it, either. The driving factor is a decision by Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature in 2006 to reduce property taxes by $14 billion every two years and raise only about $9 billion to replace that money. In other words, the Legislature committed $5 billion every two years to holding down property taxes instead of spending that money on education, public safety or other priorities.
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No property taxes in Texas? That sounds GREAT! What's the catch?

Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Thursday, February 11, 2010
It's not a new idea, but it's guaranteed to get attention: The government is taxing us out of our homes, so let's abolish property taxes! . . . The problem is that local governments depend heavily on property tax revenue. It brings in more than half of the money used to build and run public schools. Same thing for city and county government.
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AISD board to consider declaring financial crisis
KVUE.com
Monday, February 08, 2010
The Austin ISD board of trustees considers two big issues Monday night. Board members will discuss whether to declare the district in a state of financial crisis.
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