The Sound of Falling Dominoes

The state budget crisis is only one piece of a much larger, distressing government puzzle.

"...Last week the U.S. Congress settled on a "compromise" tax-cut plan that supposedly rejected the more extreme proposals of..."

May 30, 2003 News Column by Michael King

The Last Don

Bob Bullock: The Crusty Boss of Texas Politics

"...changing political landscape. His abrupt change of direction on tax policy demonstrates how fast Bullock can move. In March..."

Jan. 31, 1997 News Feature by Robert Bryce

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Upcoming Legislative Session

Lawmakers set to tackle immigration, education, legalization, transportation, and more

"...the session, Tuesday, January 8. The State Budget and Taxes..."

Dec. 14, 2018 News Feature by the News Staff

Lege Lines: Robbin' the Hoods

How can state lawmakers fix school finance?

"...district coffers, and its increased reliance on local property taxes. During the regular session, House Public Education Chair Dan..."

Aug. 4, 2017 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Shortchanged

A lot of belt tightening and creative thinking make getting by with low dollars possible for AISD

"...think if you just looked at how much property tax money the district is scheduled to collect over the..."

Sept. 4, 2015 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Adventures in Can-Kicking

Austin ISD approves 2010 budget, avoids tax fight

"...to approve the 2010-11 budget and set the new tax property tax rate to cover that budget. It was,..."

Aug. 24, 2010 News Post by Richard Whittaker

School Lawsuits Multiply

Three groups of Texas school districts are suing the state over the public school finance system

"...districts – the Texas School Coalition and the Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness Coalition – had already announced their..."

Nov. 4, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Naked City

Headlines and happenings from Austin and beyond

"...items, but the committee has also been hearing from neighborhoods about the specific needs of their schools. According to..."

March 12, 2004 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

AISD Budget

District may have resources to reverse cuts if it can muster the courage to raise taxes

"...the cojones (or the chutzpah) to vote to raise taxes...."

June 30, 2006 News Feature by Michael May

Point Austin: Low Expectations

Not much reason to believe that the Lege will do right by Texas students

"...trumpeting for more than two years – lowering property taxes...."

April 14, 2006 News Column by Michael King

Judge Dietz Finds School Finance System Unconstitutional

Court ruling ends five-week trial with a mandate to Legislature to design a new system

"...to provide "an adequate suitable education"; 2) the property tax system, under which an increasing number of districts "are..."

Sept. 17, 2004 News Feature by Michael King

If It's Broke, Don't Fix It

Texas school finance system ruled constitutional

"...iniquitous. Moreover, because it required districts to raise property taxes to maintain their schools, it was a de facto..."

May 20, 2016 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

School Finance on Trial

Hearing only expected to last a short two and a half hours

"...Schools Association. Finally come the original plaintiffs: the Texas Taxpayer and Student Fair­ness Coalition (representing 400 poorer school districts,..."

Aug. 28, 2015 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

School Finance: A Timeline

"...Bill 1, a series of sales, tobacco, and alcohol tax increases to provide more school cash. State District Judge..."

May 1, 2015 News Feature

Unsettled Business

Lege opens with many unanswered questions

"...his hard-right agenda: border concerns, school vouchers and charters, tax cuts. As a senator, he has targeted the two-thirds..."

Jan. 16, 2015 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

We're 49th! ... Or Just Seventh of 10

Union and Austin ISD argue over teacher pay – and what to do about it

"...how to pay for it. Strike the current property tax revenues off the list of possible sources. The Travis..."

April 9, 2010 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Point Austin: Bare Necessities

Budget decisions are about money ... and justice

"...they were attempting to bankrupt City Hall and the taxpayers with their outrageous contract demands, which city administrators must..."

Aug. 15, 2008 News Column by Michael King

Naked City

And Texans hint they might not oppose an income tax after all

"..."school choice") and moderate enthusiasm for eliminating recapture, aka "Robin Hood" (50% to 44%)...."

May 21, 2004 News Feature by Michael King

Luv Doc Recommends: Eeyore’s 41st annual Birthday Party

Pease Park, Saturday, April 24, 2004

"...Living inside the loop means having a monthly property tax nut bigger than the average mortgage payment in a..."

April 23, 2004 Column by The Luv Doc

A Lege Too Far

With Six Weeks to Go, the Legislative Future Looks Dark and Darker

"...The Republican leadership remains publicly committed to "no new taxes" (although with some waffling on expanding existing taxes where..."

April 11, 2003 News Feature by Michael King

Why AISD Wants and Needs a $2.4 Billion Bond Program

Equity is not cheap

"...though it's a huge program, the impact on the taxpayer is going to be barely noticeable (a 1-cent increase..."

Oct. 7, 2022 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Saving Austin's Schools

Nobody gets everything they want, but AISD’s bond may give everybody something they really need

"...million of the $1.134 billion package goes to specific neighborhood campuses and schools of choice, as well as relocating..."

Sept. 8, 2017 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

House to Address Education Funding

Speaker Joe Straus sets school finance as interim item

"...review of the end of Additional State Aid for Tax Relief (ASATR). In 2006, when the Legislature last revised..."

June 10, 2016 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Fixing the Gap

Mayors tackle school finance at SXSWedu

"...money to pay for pre-K. But San Antonio's sales tax rate was one-eighth of a cent below the tax..."

March 18, 2016 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Meet the Candidate: Gina Hinojosa

Hinojosa stands as the most high-profile establishment candidate among the HD 49 contenders

"...which pass that burden on to residents through property taxes. On top of that, AISD is a massive contributor..."

Feb. 5, 2016 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

School Finance Plan Headed for Hearing

Aycock promises no losers as Senate obsesses on vouchers

"...many districts as possible off Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction, another misshapen fruit of the poisoned tree that..."

April 8, 2015 News Post by Richard Whittaker

AISD: Holes Plugged ... Temporarily

The 2009 AISD budget balances the books, but the financial future's not bright

"...fear this year is that costs may rise while tax revenue falls. In addition, the district faces a whole..."

July 31, 2009 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Point Austin: Pointed Questions for 2006

When the Lege comes back to school, will they have done their homework?

"...the schools, of course, is the outcome of Perry's Tax Reform Commission, which thus far seems one more feeble..."

Jan. 13, 2006 News Column by Michael King

Dems Almost Steal School Finance Thunder

Underdogs' ambitious education package carried the support of a dozen Republicans and every House Democrat

"...reap more funding. Democrats also proposed reducing the maximum tax rate from $1.50 to $1.25 per $100 valuation. HB..."

July 1, 2005 News Column by Amy Smith

Back to School

From Dallas to the Border, Texas shortchanges its children and its future

"...court that since AISD has reached the state-mandated $1.50 tax cap, his job had become trying to move money..."

Aug. 20, 2004 News Column by Michael King

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