School finance proposal is focus of message; critics say it's old newsBy CHRISTY HOPPE, Dallas Morning News, 06/23/05 AUSTIN -- Gov. Rick Perry kicked off the political season Wednesday by airing a statewide radio commercial touting his education funding plan. The 60-second ad asks people to call their lawmakers and urge them to support the Perry Plan, which he unveiled Tuesday to a less than enthusiastic reception from legislators who are busy honing their own proposals.
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In his new radio ad, Gov. Rick Perry makes several claims about his school-finance plan that educators and lawmakers have taken issue with:
The plan would put $5 billion into schools. That's spread over two years, though, and almost $2 billion is eaten up by projected increases in enrollment and is not available for new programs.
The plan would give teachers a $1,500 pay raise. House and Senate plans give twice that amount, and even with a $3,000 annual raise, Texas teachers still would earn less than the national average.
His plan touts $7 billion in property tax relief. Actually, he cuts $3 billion from the property tax rate the first year and $1 billion through additional homestead exemptions the second year. He gets to $7 billion by counting the initial tax cut again in the second year, arguing that once it's cut, property owners save that much each successive year.
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The article mentions Strayhorn's aide as saying she could, or would try, to make up the money without raising taxes. Personally, I think that a bunch of political hooey from a gubenatorial candidate.
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