State Budget May Fund Education, But How?
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The State of Texas is facing a major budget shortfall projected to be between $15-27 Billion.
The state says it's financially strapped. So where did the state senate finance committee come up with the more than $10 Billion they voted to put back into the budget Thursday?
CBS 11 wondered that too and started digging for an answer.
Students rally to save their Dallas high school from devastating budget cuts. Sophomore Golden Chouffet attends the Booker T. Washington Magnet School for the performing and visual arts. "When the teachers get cut, then we lose our class."
Cyrus stowe, a freshman, says, "i'm worried taking these teachers away will take my opportunities away, also by taking them away, that's my future."
Dallas ISD and most other school districts are having to cut their budgets because the state legislature originally proposed slashing $9.3 Billion to public schools for the next two years.
But this week, the senate finance committee approved restoring $5.7 Billion to schools, and a senate sub-committee restored $4.5 Billion to health and human services programs for needy children and the elderly. That's a total of $10.2 Billion.
Advocates for education and social services programs would cheer for more money. But the problem is, the senate finance committee still hasn't said where the extra money will come from.
The legislature has agreed to tap the rainy day fund to close a shortfall for the 2011 budget year. That, combined with other budget cuts made this year will provide the state an extra $4.3 Billion to spend in 2012-2013.
But that still means the senate committee has passed $5.9 Billion in new spending without actually having the money. Where are they going to get it?
On Friday, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst said the state could pay for it in part by selling state land. But UT Arlington political science professor Allan Saxe doubts the state can sell state land that quickly. "I cannot imagine they're going to sell $6 to $7 Billion of land in the next month or two in order to plug it into the budget."
The harsh reality though for many students, parents, teachers, and others, is that layoffs, program cuts, and larger classes next fall seem unavoidable. The budget process is still far from over.
No word yet when the full state senate will vote on its budget plan. But the full house will vote on its version of the state budget next Friday, and cbs 11 will be in Austin for that vote.
