| Securing enough funding for the Dallas schools is a | | | | that maximum to $1.00 per $100 of property |
| problem experienced by many school districts in | | | | over the next two years. |
| the United States. Most funding has become | | | | More Accountability and Transparency. The new |
| program specific, with government controlling its | | | | legislation not only requires even more |
| use and generally benefiting only a portion of the | | | | bureaucracy for the Dallas schools, but they are |
| Dallas schools students. State funding has been | | | | required to make it available on the Internet. The |
| scarce, requiring Dallas schools to rely upon local | | | | Dallas schools will now be required to place |
| property and school taxes to cover the general | | | | detailed local school spending information on a web |
| needs of the schools. Additionally, federal | | | | site for anyone to review. This new level of |
| government oversight creates a lot more | | | | heavy oversight gives ammunition to anyone who |
| administrative requirements. This means that | | | | wishes to get their name in the paper through |
| many of the precious dollars the Dallas schools | | | | official complaint to the legislators or even bogus |
| receive through government funding must be | | | | court action. Some question whether this might |
| spent on administrative costs, rather than directly | | | | lead to more costs to the Dallas schools to |
| to benefit the students. | | | | defend needed expenditures that benefit Dallas |
| Recently, the Texas legislature passed new | | | | schools students, either directly or indirectly. |
| legislation for tax and school finance reform. Many | | | | Teacher Compensation. On the upside, the new |
| are touting the law as especially good for Dallas | | | | legislation includes a $2,000 teacher pay raise, |
| schools. The law includes tax cuts to businesses, | | | | sorely needed by Dallas schools teachers. A $250 |
| property tax cuts, strong taxpayer protections, | | | | million state teacher performance pay plan is also |
| and school funding and accountability | | | | included in the law, of which Dallas schools will |
| improvements. | | | | receive its portion. The performance plan is to |
| Here is how the new legislation affects the Dallas | | | | encourage teaching innovation and excellence. |
| schools. | | | | Overall, the new legislation puts $1.7 billion dollars |
| School Property Tax Control. Previously, the Dallas | | | | of new money into schools across the state, |
| schools, along with other schools in Texas, could | | | | dramatically increasing the state's share of public |
| raise the school property tax rate by six cents | | | | school funding. Though this new legislation does |
| per $100 of property every year -- without voter | | | | take a burden off the Dallas schools property |
| approval. With the new legislation, any raise of the | | | | taxpayers by providing more state funding for |
| school property tax rate of more than four cents | | | | general school expenditures, it does decrease the |
| must have local voter approval. Additionally, the | | | | local dollars that do not carry the heavy price tag |
| maximum school property tax was $1.50 per | | | | of red tape administration, as well as lowering the |
| $100 of property. The new legislation will lower | | | | Dallas schools ability to raise funds locally. |