A state budget draft with a proposed 23 percent cut to public education is “alarming” according to District 27 State Representative Ron Reynolds, and will likely lead to “more of our children being left behind.”
Last week Chairman Pitts (R-Waxahachie) filed House Bill 1, the proposed state budget for fiscal year 2012-2013. The released draft was a “reality check on the highly anticipated, yet dismal financial condition facing Texas” as a result of a $26.8 billion dollar shortfall ensuing from a structural deficit within the budgeting system, according to Reynolds.
“It is clear now that more than ever before that we need to identify new and stable revenue streams if we are to prevent such drastic shortfalls in the future,” said Reynolds. “The introduced House budget does not take into consideration the population growth in our state. As our population continues to grow, our resources will be spread even thinner.”
The projected budget appropriates a combined $156.4 billion in State and Local funds, which is $31.1 billion less than the prior biennium, while the State General Revenue appropriation of $72.2 billion is $8.4 billion less than the previous two-year budget.
“This budget proposed by the state’s leadership underscores the uncertainty for the future of Texas’ working families, children, students, and senior citizens,” said Reynolds.
The current working draft proposes a 23 percent cut to public education, zero funding for some of the smaller community colleges, a reduction in healthcare and social services, cuts to higher education and research funding, and the elimination of the TEXAS Grants, the state’s primary financial aid program for new college students.
“More alarming,” said Reynolds, “is the daunting reality that school districts will be compelled to lay-off good teachers, increasing the likelihood of even more of our children being left behind.”
Reynolds said he is concerned that “no consideration” has been given to taping into the state’s $9.4 billion dollar “Rainy Day” fund.
“I’m no Meteorologist, but if this is not a rainy day, I don’t know what is,” said Reynolds. “This proposed budget fails Texans, specifically our most vulnerable communities: our children and seniors.”
It’s time to cut back. On everything. The good teachers will find a home, the developers will find something else to build. The thought process of entitlements and givaways has to stop. But the real issue is who gets what. We should focus on Texans first and illegals second. There is plenty of money to go around if you quit giving it to illegals for education, healthcare and foodstamps. We should focus on infrastrucuture, water, roads, and entice manufacturing to re-locate here. That is my speach and I am sticking to it.
Meanwhile, our tax dollars are STILL being passed out readily to developers of low-income apartment complexes, so that the developers can become wealthy and existing neighborhoods can die a slow death. Until these tax credits can instead go toward something more useful (rehabbing old apartments rather than building brand-new on virgin land in the suburbs where no one wants them), TDHCA funding should be cut!
Millions upon millions from TDHCA given to these developers, yet let’s remove funding for education… where are the state’s priorities?!?
Here’s a list of the upcoming low-income project applications:
http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us/multifamily/htc/docs/11-PreAppResultsRegLog.pdf
If you live in Westheimer Lakes, Longmeadow Farms, Greatwood, Canyon Gate, they want to come to your neighborhood! Better learn the system, start preparing for protests, and be on the lookout for anything fishy going on (fake HOA letters of approval, lying by the developer, etc.)