10/11/10

If placed on the ballot to amend the Texas Constitution, “Would voters approve amending the constitution to authorize a statewide property tax”?  Considering that a clear majority of tax rate elections are passing these days in spite of the debated severity of economic doldrums in Texas, a proposal in front of the Texas voters may have fairly reasonable odds of approval.  This solution could lead to simplification of the current labyrinth of Foundation School Program (FSP) state aid calculations.  A statewide property tax is one of various options under review by certain legislators in the days leading up to the 2011 Legislative Session. 

The current FSP state aid funding system is most definitely broken.  A statewide property tax combined with an enrichment tax of about 20 cents could have legs in 2011.  We will look back upon the upcoming perfect storm for funding the next General Appropriations Act with thoughts of, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”  More on this topic later. 

To read the Austin American Statesman article “Statewide property tax seen as possible fix to school finance systemVoters could be asked to amend constitution”  click on the link below. 

http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/statewide-property-tax-seen-as-possible-fix-to-958235.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4cadd767a03b3765,0