Voters in the Keller school district must decide whether Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is right.
The question is whether a $13.8 million state funding shortfall leaves the district with an "adequate" amount of money or, if not, whether they'll approve a 13-cent tax rate increase.The tax hike would cost the owner of a $200,000 home an additional $260 per year, district officials have said.Dewhurst said almost two weeks before the regular legislative session ended May 30 that the Senate offered better budget and school funding plans than the House.The Senate proposal would give schools $4 billion less than state financing formulas require, while the House came up almost $8 billion short of the formula amount.Dewhurst said the Senate proposal held "adequate" funding for schools, while the House could force school districts to increase local taxes."I don't want to short public education and create a tax hike for people all around the state," he said.The Legislature is in a special session now, still tinkering with aspects of the school funding plan. The end product is expected to conform with the Senate's $4 billion shortfall in state support.The Keller district has already drawn up a list of spending reductions, including administrative furloughs, to match an expected $16 million shortage of local funds.Early voting has begun for a June 18 tax ratification election. A proposed tax rate increase of 13 cents for each $100 of assessed property value would bring in about $16 million a year.That would make up for the expected $13.8 million state funding shortfall in the 2011-12 school year and another $15.1 million shortage in 2012-13.Could the district fulfill its educational mission without the tax hike?Administrators and trustees have said what will be necessary if voters reject the increase.They say $5 million in campus personnel cuts would eliminate 93 teaching jobs, 16 librarian positions and other staff. Fine arts programs would lose 34 positions, reducing expenditures by $1.9 million.The district would save $2 million by eliminating all regular education transportation.Some steps on the list are speculative, like saving $1.8 million through furloughs for teachers, librarians, counselors, diagnosticians and nurses. Lawmakers are working on a bill to allow that, but it has strong opposition.Some voters might say the district is using scare tactics to get the tax increase approved. That's risky, given the cutbacks already approved in Keller and other districts.It might help to know what adequate means in school finance jargon. Years of lawsuits have established that it means whatever it takes to gain accreditation for the district, which means a state rating of "acceptable."The Keller district is rated "recognized," a step up from "acceptable." The district has 24 "exemplary" campuses, eight that are "recognized" and four "academically acceptable."Relying on the "adequate" funding promised by Dewhurst would be at least one, maybe two, steps back for the Keller district.The Star-Telegram Editorial Board recommends voting for the tax ratification in the Keller school district.