Legislative Platform
88th Legislative Priorities
The State of Texas's 88th Legislative Regular Session began Tuesday, January 10, 2023. During the January 23, 2023 Carroll ISD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting, the Board considered the Carroll ISD Legislative Priorities for the 88th Texas Legislative Session and approved the item 6-0 as presented.
CISD Financial Update - CISD isn’t alone
While the revelation of these financial challenges may feel like a shock, it’s actually a state-wide problem that has been building for some time, with many of our peer and neighboring districts experiencing similar hardships.
Texas is ranked 38th in the nation for funding its public schools. Furthermore, within the state of Texas, Carroll ISD is the 4th lowest funded school district in the state based on the Texas state funding formula.
The facts are clear. Operational costs continue to rise and school districts across the state are facing financial challenges. Carroll ISD has been actively advocating during this legislative session for an increase to the basic allotment. An automatic annual adjustment would allow the basic allotment to reflect the fluctuating costs of public education and reduce recapture. To keep in step with rising operational costs, necessary cost of living increases for our Dragon staff, and growing staff healthcare premiums, this legislative priority is critical!
Districts across Texas are making tough decisions as we wait on our representatives to update school funding. In fact, here are a few districts going public with similar financial challenges and decisions.
- Spring Branch ISD shared some hard news recently with their community.
- Pflugerville ISD has considered school closures and program cuts due a multimillion dollar budget deficit.
- Plano ISD cites increasing operational costs including rising utility rates as the causes for its $6 million budget deficit.
- Our neighbors in Grapevine Colleyville ISD are facing a $6.3 million shortfall.
- Keller ISD issued an emergency plea to its stakeholders to reach out to state legislators about the proposed state budget.
- Clear Creek ISD is facing a $17.41 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2023-2024 and a $31.75 budget shortfall for fiscal year 2024-25.
Clearly, CISD isn’t alone in facing these financial challenges, and we are doing everything we can to find solutions, by first urging our legislators to remedy the insufficient state funding formula. You can join us in doing so by visiting TakeActionDragons.com and taking just a moment to contact your representatives.
Carroll ISD has asked our legislators to prioritize the following issues:
Quick Links and Resources
DATES OF INTEREST
November 8, 2022
General election for federal, state, and county officers (Texas Election Code, Section 41.001(a)(3))
November 14, 2022
Bill prefiling begins (House Rule 8, Section 7 and Senate Rule 7.04(a))
January 10, 2023
88th Legislature convenes at noon (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 5(a); Texas Government Code, Section 301.001)
March 10, 2023
60-day bill filing deadline (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 5(b))
May 29, 2023
Adjournment sine die (Texas Constitution, Article III, Section 24(b))
June 18, 2023
Post-session 20-day deadline for Governor to sign or veto (Texas Constitution, Article IV, Section 14)