Big tax increases in a recession: What are Fort Worth, Arlington schools thinking?
In the Coen brothers’ classic film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” a character explains his betrayal of the protagonists by announcing: “They got this depression on. I got to do for me and mine.”
Texas’ deep recession is thankfully not a depression, but Tarrant County’s two biggest school districts aren’t looking out for beleaguered taxpayers.
The Fort Worth and Arlington school districts voted recently to seek large property-tax hikes — at a time of high unemployment and ongoing economic uncertainty. If voters agree in November, Fort Worth would raise its rate by 11 cents per $100 of valuation, an astounding 7.5% increase. Arlington is modest only by comparison, asking for an increase of just under 9 cents, or about $163 more a year for an average-value home in the district.
Fort Worth’s board voted, 5-2, to add the election to the already crowded Nov. 3 ballot, with two trustees not present. Arlington’s vote was unanimous.
As each board deliberated, there was scarce mention of the economic suffering wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. There was no acknowledgment that parents are shouldering more of the burden of education, thanks to distance learning. And no board members asked, “Why are we raising taxes when property appraisals are holding steady?”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who writes these editorials?
Editorials are the positions of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, editorial writer and columnist. Most editorials are written by Rusak or Russell. Editorials are unsigned because they represent the board’s consensus positions, not the views of individual writers.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How are topics and positions chosen?
The Editorial Board meets regularly to discuss issues in the news and what points should be made in editorials. We strive to build a consensus to produce the strongest editorials possible, but when we differ, we put matters to a vote.
The board aims to be consistent with stances it has taken in the past but usually engages in a fresh discussion based on new developments and different perspectives.
We focus on local and state news, though we will also weigh in on national issues with an eye toward their impact on Texas or the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
How are these different from news articles or signed columns?
News reporters strive to keep their opinions out of what they write. They have no input on the Editorial Board’s stances. The board consults their reporting and expertise but does its own research for editorials.
Signed columns by writers such as Allen, Kennedy and Rusak contain the writer’s personal opinions.
How can I respond to an editorial, suggest a topic or ask a question?
We invite readers to write letters to be considered for publication. The preferred method is an email to letters@star-telegram.com. To suggest a topic or ask a question, please email Rusak directly at rrusak@star-telegram.com.
School districts, like every government and business, face unexpected costs from the pandemic. Trying to protect teachers, support staff and students will require new expenses for masks, cleaning and changes to classrooms. Districts are also providing technology to needy families for at-home learning, such as laptops — 16,000 so far, according to the district — and WiFi hotspots. Fort Worth would use some of the requested tax increase to install broadband towers to expand reliable access for low-income students.
Some costs, though, such as busing, are bound to be reduced.
To be fair, Fort Worth and Arlington are among the few local districts who haven’t already taken advantage of an election to increase school taxes. Their new rates, if approved, will be in line with most of their peers. Both say the added revenue will help them remain competitive in recruiting and keeping the best teachers.
Mike Ball, the chief financial officer for the Fort Worth district, notes that by increasing local taxes by $44 million, Fort Worth will also receive about $22 million in enrichment money from the state.
And school leaders around Texas are expecting significant cuts in state funding when the Legislature returns in January to grapple with a massive budget shortfall.
“We have no idea what’s going to come out of that,” Fort Worth ISD spokesman Clint Bond said. “We have to plan that things are not going to be beneficial from the Legislature.”
Bond said the district anticipates that lawmakers may even cut funding in the current year, not just the next two-year budget.
But to pre-emptively levy higher taxes is a mistake. District 7 trustee Norman Robbins, one of the two no votes on Fort Worth’s increase, warned that the district might have to ask the voters for even more after the Legislature acts.
“It would be more prudent for us to see how much more cutting we have to endure next spring and then go to the voters and try to make up that difference, rather than doing a little bit now and a little bit later,” Robbins said.
After all, the economic pain could continue a while. Unemployment, while improving, remains stubbornly high, Thursday’s federal report showed. New claims filed, indicating job losses continue as business shutdowns go on. Locally, Dallas-Fort Worth’s largest employer, American Airlines, announced extensive job cuts.
To win over beleaguered taxpayers worrying about making the mortgage payment and facing down the possibility of more layoffs or pay cuts, the school districts must demonstrate they are spending prudently.
Ball said that administrators will present a budget update to trustees next month that seeks to cut spending. And Arlington trustees noted that a district “efficiency audit” identified savings of $1.6 million. That’s a good start.
We know trustees and administrators face difficult choices and unprecedented challenges trying to adjust school to the COVID-19 era. And as we’ve noted before, we ask our schools to bear the burden of helping poor families far beyond the mission of education; the fact that the FWISD is now in the broadband business is a stark reminder.
But taxpayers are suffering, and now is not the time for these big tax increases. Voters would be justified to say, in the words of George Clooney’s character, Ulysses Everett McGill: Sorry, but we’re in a tight spot.