Will ‘kinder, Gentler’ Legislature Be Able to Deliver on Goal to Curb Texas School Property Taxes?

AUSTIN — A narrowing of top GOP leaders’ philosophical differences and an increase in Democrats’ numbers could reduce the Texas legislature’s appetite for rancorous infighting over social issues this year. But when lawmakers convene Tuesday for the 86th Texas Legislature, they will still find it harder to deliver on their big goals — a school finance overhaul, new constraints on property taxes — than it is to talk about them, says Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson.“It’s all a question of the money that would be required to put the public schools on a solid financial footing not being available at current tax rates,” he said. “For the Republican majority, that’s all you need to know — that the money is not there.”  Continue reading...