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<p>Let’s face it … most discussions about equity in funding in Texas boils down to a tug of war between the have and the have-not. If money would be redirected from Highland Park to Coppell or Southlake, the Park Cities citizens would be upset. When in turn, money was “stolen” from those newly created academic suburban Shangri-La and sent to the Valley, the complaints grew louder. However, even some of the recipients used the new riches to build sport facilities and “splurge” on new perks, there was still not enough to make everyone happy. </p>
<p>The sad reality is that a LOT of money dedicated to K-12 education is wasted. Voters who routinely turn down new bonds are keenly aware of this waste. The other side of the coin is that the taxation of properties reached its natural limit a long time ago. People who are so happy to criticize Rick Perry might have forgotten the measures he pushed to lower the property taxes in Texas. </p>
<p>Of course, this is yet another discussion between the have and have not. Obviously, someone with a 1,000,000 home who sends his children to private schools thinks very differently from a family of renters with three or four kids in the local public schools. Same thing for young families versus retired citizens who own assets that have appreciated.</p>
<p>There are no easy solutions. There are no pools of free money to tap in. Ultimately, people who want more money going to schools have to accept that it will have to come out of their pockets. </p>
<p>Try to sell that idea!</p>