Houston had a lot of expensive whine this week — from money-hungry superintendents intent on spending a lot more of your money. And they’ll spend every dollar they can get. Since 2000, public school revenues have grown 60 percent, even though the student population has grown only 15 percent. And yet the Texas School Alliance complains that "property tax relief" erodes their ability to tax-and-spend without fetter. Um, yes, that’s the point.
Jesus Chavez, the school chief in Round Rock, is quoted by the Associated Press as complaining that he just cannot raise taxes enough under current law to cover salaries and inflation. Maybe that’s because his school district has an average administrative salary of $86,234 per year. Revenues in Round Rock ISD are up 75 percent since 2000, even though the number of pupils has increased just 30 percent.
His comrade-in-waste at the Texas School Alliance, Richard Middleton, frets that efforts to force property tax relief efforts "takes power away from local school boards." And gives that power to the taxpayers.
