State Rep's School Funding Plan Would Raise Property Tax

AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - What do you do when the state can't fund the current school finance system? Houston Democratic State Representative Scott Hochberg's answer is you change it.

Hochberg has filed two bills, one that would simplify the funding system so it would function with less money, and another that would make it easier for local districts to raise property taxes to make up some of the money that won't be coming from the state.

"If the state is no longer in the business of making up the difference then I think local taxpayers need to know that one of the options available may be that their property taxes may go up to make up the difference."

Hochberg says one effect of these bills is that they will show lawmakers how serious their local school districts will be effected by proposed state budget cuts. "I think for people who think that the property tax impact would be small, you start looking at 35 or 40 cents difference in order to make up for what the state is no longer willing to pay, at least at this point, and that's significant."

He says the first thing representatives want to know is the impact of education funding changes to their local districts, and these bills will let them know that.