DALLAS - Texas school districts are bracing for budget cuts after a plan to provide an additional $3 billion in state funding died in the Texas Legislature.
Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, pulled his House Bill 1759 on May 14 when it appeared certain that prolonged debate on the measure would threaten other legislation that needed to win first passage by the midnight deadline.
Aycock said the bill would have been dead on arrival in the state Senate, regardless of the House vote.
Under the House budget passed last month, $3 billion on top of funding for growth is added for schools. The Senate budget provides $1.5 billion extra. A House and Senate conference committee is working to resolve differences between the two budget bills.
Aycock, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, said he thinks the Senate's provision is more likely to be adopted.
More than 600 school districts are suing the state on grounds that the Legislature has not adequately funded public education.
After State District Judge John Dietz ruled in favor of the schools in August, the Texas Supreme Court must rule in favor of the districts or the state. The high court's ruling is expected next spring, when the Texas Legislature is not in session.
Dietz's ruling came a year after the lawmakers restored $3.9 billion of $5.4 billion they cut to public education funding in 2011, when the Legislature tackled a $27 billion budget shortfall.
With so much uncertainty over state funding, school districts across the state have begun designing budgets using various scenarios. Under the current funding formula some large districts are facing possible deficits.
