Educational Budget Cuts in Texas

It is now official; the state of Texas will have to make drastic cuts because of a shortfall in the state budget. In an effort not to raise taxes, the Texas legislature has decided to make deep cuts in some programs including public education.

Districts across the state of Texas are fiercely trying to find monies and solutions to the inevitable. As with the entire state, the North Texas schools will soon find themselves eliminating people and programs.

Realigning athletics will not save the money that will be lost. Trimming printing cost and office supplies will not make a dent in the money that will be lost.

In the Dallas Independent School District which is the second largest in the state behind Houston, the superintendent, Dr. Michael Hinojosa is looking to cut as much as $260 million. He has stated that nothing is office limits; in fact everything is now on the table including teachers. He goes on further to state that the district is planning for the worst case scenario.

Crossing highway 30 in Fort Worth, Texas, they are expecting to lose as much as $60 million which is about 15% of their budget. Arlington Independent School District has not opening talked of what the cuts in funding from the state will do to their schools, but they are well aware that they will be affected.

Richardson Independent School District has already discussed the probability that there will be a salary freeze for the coming school year 2011-2012. They are contemplating they may lose as much as $54 million during that time.

A major obstacle that all of the school districts have is that the legislature is not likely to pass a budget until April or May which leaves school districts with very little time to readjust their budgets, hire new staff, update technology and so much more.

Another problem that the school districts are facing is that most of them are starting with deficits from the previous school years.

In order not to cut educational funding and or raise taxes, the legislature would have to dip into their $9 billion dollar fund that is for emergencies. The legislature has given no indication they are willing to do this.

With the state of Texas having to cut funds, it seems unlikely they will spare education which for the longest has been considered the sacred cow of the state. The legislature has announced they will also cut higher education. The school districts are hoping that federal funding will not also be cut. The cutting has begun in every school district across the state of Texas.