Stay Informed and Act
Spring Branch Speaks...to make our voices heard in Austin.
As parents, residents, and community members we value our schools and will speak up for our students, our campuses, and our district. As the legislative session progresses Spring Branch Speaks will be tracking important bills that will have an impact on Spring Branch ISD. If you want to Stay Informed and Act, please join our Email List for up-to-date information on pertinent legislative issues and how your voice can be heard.
to rECAP:
FOUR Special Sessions and ZERO increase in public education funding in the State of Texas.
For voting information in Harris County, visit: HarrisVotes.com
For voting information in Harris County, visit: HarrisVotes.com
RECENTLY FROM SBISD:
$12 billion for school districts to lower their tax rates
Local property taxpayers will see a reduction through rate compression, which is when the state gives more money to school districts so they in turn can lower their tax rates. Rate compression does not give districts additional funding, but merely redistributes the obligation for public school funding to fall more heavily on the state rather than local taxpayers.
https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/how-will-texas-property-tax-relief-plan-affect-school-budgets/
Local property taxpayers will see a reduction through rate compression, which is when the state gives more money to school districts so they in turn can lower their tax rates. Rate compression does not give districts additional funding, but merely redistributes the obligation for public school funding to fall more heavily on the state rather than local taxpayers.
https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/how-will-texas-property-tax-relief-plan-affect-school-budgets/
From the 88th regular session:
May 3, 2023
Here are some bills we are watching:
As we continue to monitor the 88th Legislative Session, we ask for your positive advocacy today on House Bill 3028 which will be heard in the House today and is favorable for SBISD.
This bill aligns with our legislative priorities and would provide a 4% prepayment discount for any district that chooses to pay their recapture by February 15.
Please contact our Representatives and ask them to support HB 3028.
House Representatives representing SBISD
mano.deayala@house.texas.gov 512-463-0514
lacey.hull@house.texas.gov 512-463-0727
penny.moralesshaw@house.texas.gov 512-463-0620
Some recapture reminders:
With four more weeks left this session, we will continue the fight to #fullyfundSBISD.
In the House, we are watching HB 11 and HB 100 (the primary bill for school finance reform) and CSHB 1 – the General Appropriations Bill. These bills do not yet reach our legislative priority of at least a $1,000 increase in the Basic Allotment.
Here’s the math:
Here are some bills we are watching:
As we continue to monitor the 88th Legislative Session, we ask for your positive advocacy today on House Bill 3028 which will be heard in the House today and is favorable for SBISD.
This bill aligns with our legislative priorities and would provide a 4% prepayment discount for any district that chooses to pay their recapture by February 15.
Please contact our Representatives and ask them to support HB 3028.
House Representatives representing SBISD
mano.deayala@house.texas.gov 512-463-0514
lacey.hull@house.texas.gov 512-463-0727
penny.moralesshaw@house.texas.gov 512-463-0620
Some recapture reminders:
- The State will take, or recapture, $87 million in local taxpayer funds from SBISD this year. That’s 21% of all local taxes paid by SBISD taxpayers for public education in SBISD.
- SBISD pays the 10th highest recapture, though we are the 39th largest district in Texas and 57% of our students are economically disadvantaged.
- Since 2014 alone, SBISD has paid nearly $500 million in recapture to the state. We have only received $168 million in state funding over the same period.
- Businesses receive a discount for making their sales tax payments to the state early. We should have the same discount opportunity. An early recapture payment discount was taken away in 2019 under HB 3. This bill, if passed, would restore this discount.
With four more weeks left this session, we will continue the fight to #fullyfundSBISD.
In the House, we are watching HB 11 and HB 100 (the primary bill for school finance reform) and CSHB 1 – the General Appropriations Bill. These bills do not yet reach our legislative priority of at least a $1,000 increase in the Basic Allotment.
Here’s the math:
- Why is SBISD asking for a minimum $1,000 increase to the Basic Allotment?
- The Texas Comptroller’s Consumer Price Index affirms Texas public schools need a Basic Allotment increase of $900/student just to keep up with the inflationary costs districts have faced, with no additional revenue, since 2019. The additional $100/student (to reach our $1,000 request) helps us address inflationary costs going forward so we can continue to provide the educational excellence our students deserve.
- A $1,000 increase would cut our recapture payment roughly in half.
- Without an increase in the Basic Allotment, combined with recapture relief, SBISD faces a potential budget shortfall of $40-$50 million annually going forward.
- If funding is not increased, significant changes in programming and educational experiences would be required beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
- Currently, the House budget allocates $5 billion for public education, or ONLY a $50/student increase in the Basic Allotment. This allocation includes strings attached and falls significantly short of the $14 billion ($900/student) needed to address the needs of public school districts statewide, including SBISD. We need the Legislature to #FULLYFUNDSBISD!
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