Resource Center

San Antonio (February 27, 2003) – If the Texas Legislature eliminates the recapture provisions (mislabeled “Robin Hood”) of the Texas school finance system, the burden would be shifted from a small number of wealthy school systems (116) that contribute to state equalization, to the 887 school districts that currently benefit from the system. According to information recently provided by the Equity Center and released by IDRA, eliminating recapture would cause 867 school districts to lose more than $940 million in funding, averaging $230 per weighted student. The 116 wealthy districts by contrast would receive $1,969 per weighted student.

To make up the lost money, the 887 school systems that lose money would have to raise taxes by an average of 24¢ – just to stay at the current level. The wealthiest districts on the other hand could choose to increase their spending by the $1,969 per weighted student or reduce their average taxes by 42¢. Put another way, to maintain current levels of spending, taxes on a $50,000 home in a district that lost money would have to be increased by $120, while taxes on a home of the same value in a wealthy district would be decreased by $210.

Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, IDRA executive director said: “It took 25 years, several rounds of court cases and many legislative sessions to create an equitable system of school finance. We have come a long way. Now, all students in the state benefit through recapture. We must not go back to an unfair system.”

Local area examples released by IDRA today are as follows. (Data tables are available from IDRA and will be posted online Friday at www.idra.org/media.)

Dallas area: Garland Independent School District (ISD) stands to lose the most funding in the area. Garland ISD would lose more than $14.7 million. To replace the lost revenue the district would need to raise taxes from the current $1.28 to $1.41 just to maintain the current year’s spending levels. As a whole 10 of the 15 school districts in the area would lose more than $53 million.

Houston area: Houston Independent School District (ISD) stands to lose the most funding in the area. Houston ISD would lose more than $62 million – the most of any school district in the state. To replace the lost revenue the district would need to raise taxes from the current $1.45 to $1.54 (which exceeds the legal limit) just to maintain the current year’s spending levels. As a whole 15 of the 20 school districts in the area would lose more than $171 million.

El Paso area: El Paso Independent School District (ISD) stands to lose the most funding in the area. El Paso ISD would lose more than $18 million. To replace the lost revenue the district would need to raise taxes from the current $1.49 to $1.69 (which exceeds the legal limit) just to maintain the current year’s spending levels. As a whole all nine school districts in the area would lose more than $47 million.

Cameron County: Brownsville Independent School District (ISD) stands to lose the most funding in the area. Brownsville ISD would lose more than $13.8 million. To replace the lost revenue the district would need to raise taxes from the current $1.43 to $1.87 (which exceeds the legal limit) just to maintain the current year’s spending levels. As a whole seven of the eight school districts in the area would lose more than $23.5 million.

Hidalgo County: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (ISD) stands to lose the most funding in the area. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD would lose more than $7.5 million. To replace the lost revenue the district would need to raise taxes from the current $1.50 to $1.96 (which exceeds the legal limit) just to maintain the current year’s spending levels. As a whole all 15 school districts in the area would lose more than $47.5 million.

San Antonio area: San Antonio Independent School District (ISD) stands to lose the most funding in the area. San Antonio ISD would lose more than $4.2 million. To replace the lost revenue the district would need to raise taxes from the current $1.46 to $2.16 (which exceeds the legal limit) just to maintain the current year’s spending levels. As a whole 11 of the 12 school districts in the area would lose more than $75.8 million.

IDRA is an independent, non-profit organization, directed by María Robledo Montecel, Ph.D., dedicated to creating schools that work for all children. As a vanguard leadership development and research team for three decades, IDRA has worked with people to create self-renewing schools that value and empower all children, families and communities. IDRA conducts research and development activities, creates, implements and administers innovative education programs and provides teacher, administrator, and parent training and technical assistance.

Data Source: Equity Center, Austin, Texas (2003).