Texas school finance

[Bill Lear <rael@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Here in Texas, not surprisingly, we are having school finance
problems.  Our school funding comes from property taxes, and I believe
max tax rates are at 1.5%.  Of course, this means poor districts get
underfunded.  We passed a law, popularly known as "Robin Hood", which
forces the richer districts to share money with the poorer.  As the
economy has gone down, housing values have gone down, and now the rich
district in which I live is considering closing down one of the best
schools in the state.

Of course, people are pointing the finger at the "Robin Hood"
provision as the cause of the problem.  I see a larger problem of
fiscal irresponsibility on the part of the government for not planning
ahead, and that the Robin Hood provision is fair and reasonable,
though I would prefer a progressive income tax to fund all government
operations.

Has anyone on the list done any studies of this sort of thing?  Any
information on Texas problems in particular?


Bill