The Legislature will likely face a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall resulting from the COVID-19 slowdown of economic activity and the drop in oil prices. Coalition school districts understand balancing the budget will not be easy. However, legislators can take a number of steps — some of them temporary — to mitigate the impact on public school students in Texas.
The cost of property-tax compressions approved by the 86th Legislature is projected to grow substantially. The Legislature should delay further compression in property-tax rates until the state’s economic outlook improves. Similarly, any reduction in funding for the Foundation School Program should include an expiration date to ensure funding levels return to those envisioned by House Bill 3 as soon as possible.