Unfortunately, not all of the sacred cows are on the table.... -Angela
Austin - In the opening hours of the latest
special session of the Texas Legislature, State
Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) wasted no
time in filing a bill (House Bill 20) to create a
state Education Income Tax.
“This is the only proposal that resolves the
State’s legal issues, provides new funding for
education and promises a long standing resolution of
our school finance crisis,” said Rodriguez.
Most of the opening day was devoted to a dialogue
regarding the Governor’s Commission proposal. “Once
the rubber hits the road, it becomes ever more obvious
that this is a short term fix,” Rodriguez said. “Using
the surplus might work for this year, but we have to
make up that money in the very next year … and that
usually means an increase in sales taxes.”
According to Rep. Rodriguez, “Appraisals increase,
enrollments increase and the Governor’s plan actually
allows future increases in the property tax rate.
That’s not real property tax relief and it’s not a
solution beyond this year.”
“House Bill 20, the Education Income Tax, sets up
a simple and equalized source of revenue that will
grow with the educational needs of our state. It will
provide approximately $5 Billion in new funding for
classrooms and teacher’s salaries, and at the same
time it permanently cut the school property tax from
$1.50 to zero,” said Rodriguez.
“That’s a real solution and real property tax
relief.”
Eddie Rodriguez
State Representative, District 51
512-463-0674
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