HISD and Texas School Finance

For your information, below is an editorial that the Houston Chronicle ran yesterday on recent news that HISD will soon be required to return local tax revenue to the state because of Texas' school finance laws. My colleague Rep. Scott Hochberg is quoted in the editorial explaining how low appraisal values and the 2006 property tax cut bill that prioritized lower property taxes over fixing our public schools have lead HISD to the place where it is today.


Robin Hood
Texas must come up with a school financing formula that expands state support for HISD.

It seems incomprehensible that the Houston Independent School District could be classed by the state as a rich district required to return local tax revenue under the so-called Robin Hood plan for redistribution to poorer areas.

Houston has not only the largest public school enrollment in Texas, but also the biggest concentration of low-income students, many of whom speak little or no English. The funding formula approved by the Texas Legislature two years ago focused almost exclusively on property tax relief without taking into account the special needs and higher costs of educating poor students.

Because it has a large tax base, HISD will have to support itself while paying the state an increasing share of tax revenue. While the estimated $3.2 million bill to the state in 2009 is a minuscule part of the district's $1.5 billion budget, it is the first symptom of a financial malady that will only grow worse in time.

State Rep. Scott Hochberg, D-Houston, has long specialized in public school finance and is recognized as a leading expert on the issue. He says the decision by Texas legislators to pour most new state money into tax cuts penalized districts, such as HISD, with large tax bases but disproportionate educational requirements. HISD is located in a high-cost labor market, a factor the state formula does not adequately take into account. According to Hochberg, "a true recognition of what it costs to deliver a successful, rigorous education in a low-income environment would change this picture dramatically."

Finally, because the state comptroller has determined that properties in Harris County are appraised at below their true value by HCAD, the school district funding is figured as if it is receiving more tax dollars than it actually gets.

It all adds up to a situation in which a district with massive educational responsibilities is getting dwindling help from the state. It's a woefully shortsighted policy that will saddle future Texans with even higher dropout rates, increased crime and fewer educated workers to service a growing economy.

When the Legislature convenes next year, one of the first items on the agenda should be reworking the school finance formula to reflect the real costs of providing education in districts such as Houston.

Rather than taking from the poor to give to the poor, the state must assume its rightful share of the cost of educating all our children.

Statement of Rep. Coleman on Texas Precinct Convention Process

(Houston)//--State Representative Garnet F. Coleman (D-Houston) issued the following statement regarding Texas' precinct convention process:

"The execution may have been a little chaotic, but the spirit of a precinct convention - of neighbors who rarely get to see each other coming out of their homes, standing in line on a chilly Tuesday evening, talking, arguing, thinking about political and policy beliefs, making their voices heard - that's democracy at its finest," said Representative Coleman. "Neighborhood cohesion has been weakened by outside forces for years. We shouldn't weaken our own communities by eliminating a chance for neighbors in Texas to come together and make their voices heard."

"Most people think their civic club, their PTO, or their homeowners association is important. Their precinct convention is just as important," said Representative Coleman. "Our politics has become fragmented and precinct conventions give Texas neighbors a chance to come together. Get rid of them, and our politics becomes just about commercials on TV."

"Texas should consider getting rid of the open primary. Requiring voters to register by party would make Democratic party membership more meaningful and improve party cohesion and decision making in our state."

Thank You and Our Democratic Nominees

Thank you to my friends and supporters for your help in my re-election campaign. I am honored and grateful to have your support.

Congratulations to the Democratic nominees in races for the Texas House across the state. Everyone fought spirited campaigns and I look forward to working with them as candidates and as legislators. Below is a list of candidates in contested races who are now the Democratic nominees in their districts.

Donnie Dippel - District 17
Jim Dillon - District 20
Dora Olivo - District 27
Kino Flores - District 36
Rene Oliveira - District 37
Aaron Pena - District 40
Tara Rios Ybarra - District 43
Dawna Dukes - District 46
Ernie Casbeer - District 59
Marisa Marquez - District 77
Joseph E. Moody - District 78
Roberto Alonzo - District 104
Bob Romano - District 105
Armando Walle - District 140
Carol Alvarado - District 145
Al Edwards - District 146
Jessica Farrar - District 148

Houston Chronicle Endorsements

For your information, below is a partial list of candidates endorsed by the Houston Chronicle, myself included, in their races for the Texas House. If you haven't voted yet, you can click here to find where you vote on Tuesday; the polls are open from 7am-7pm.

If you would like to express your preference for president in Texas' caucuses or be a delegate to your senate district or state convention, be sure to return to your polling place at 7pm on Tuesday. However, your precinct convention won't start until the last person in line has voted. Burnt Orange Report has a terrific write-up on how Texas' "primacaucus" works, which you can read by clicking here.

Texas House, District 146, Democrat Borris Miles — Miles, though dogged by a lawsuit alleging unseemly conduct, is still the better candidate in this primary contest. Miles' Democratic challenger is Al Edwards, whom Miles defeated in 2006 and who held the seat for almost three decades, a tenure noted for its modest benefit for the district. Miles says he has learned his lesson regarding public deportment. In his short time in Austin, Miles proved that he can be an effective representative.

State representative, District 140, Democrat Armando Walle — If elected, Walle pledges to focus on education and health care. A lifelong district resident, Walle is intimately familiar with the needs of this community. This is Walle's first run at elective office, but he has long served the district as an aide to U.S. Rep. Gene Green and Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia. The incumbent, state Rep. Kevin Bailey, has been an able representative but appears to have lost the confidence of his heavily Democratic constituents by working closely with and receiving large campaign contributions from House Speaker Tom Craddick, a Republican.

Texas House, District 148, Democrat Jessica Farrar — Running for her eighth term, incumbent Farrar has been an outstanding representative for her district and has played a strong leadership role for her party in Austin. Farrar has been criticized for attending law school while in office, but she makes a strong case that this additional training will be a boon to her constituents.

Texas House, District 147, Democrat Garnet Coleman — Coleman, the incumbent, says he is frustrated by public school dropout rates, high college tuition and the high rate of uninsured children. He promises to continue fighting for improvements. Clean air is another of Coleman's priorities, as are land banking for affordable housing and sensible stewardship of the environment. Deeply-versed in all the complexities of lawmaking, Coleman is highly competent, well-respected and the best choice for voters in this contest.

Texas House, District 145, Democrat Carol Alvarado. Alvarado racked up a solid record of achievements during three two-year terms as a Houston city councilwoman. Now running for the seat vacated by Rep. Rick Noriega, Alvarado wants to revisit tuition deregulation, which has made college costs prohibitive for many of her prospective constituents. A native Houstonian who has a history of working to strengthen neighborhoods and fighting pollution in the district, Alvarado pledges to work as a legislator for broader health coverage for Texas children.