Texas

TexasTowelie

(112,236 posts) Thu Sep 15, 2016, 11:19 PM Sep 2016

Lawsuit Backed by Ken Paxton Could Spell Trouble for 21 Texas School Districts

Months after warning school districts that it could be illegal to reduce or repeal their local optional homestead exemptions, Attorney General Ken Paxton swiftly intervened in a citizen lawsuit filed Thursday challenging the practice.

More than 20 school districts have tweaked their exemptions since Texas lawmakers last year increased a separate state homestead exemption, angering the Republican leaders who championed the property tax cut.

“It is a clear sleight-of-hand reduction in the local option homestead exemption by a handful of school districts,” Paxton, a former Republican state lawmaker, said in a statement. “This is an attempted money-grab, pure and simple. These districts clearly intend to undermine state law and negate the tax break."

Lawmakers spent weeks last spring arguing about how best to slash levies. Texas House and Senate leaders ultimately announced a deal with much fanfare to reduce property taxes by increasing the state’s homestead exemption to $25,000.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/15/lawsuit-backed-ken-paxton-could-spell-trouble-21-t/

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Lawsuit Backed by Ken Paxton Could Spell Trouble for 21 Texas School Districts (Original Post) TexasTowelie Sep 2016 OP

My neighbor in SF is moving to Texas because her hubby's job is moving there kimbutgar Sep 2016 #1

I don't think that is a fair assessment. TexasTowelie Sep 2016 #2

kimbutgar

(21,157 posts)

1. My neighbor in SF is moving to Texas because her hubby's job is moving there

Reply to TexasTowelie (Original post)

Thu Sep 15, 2016, 11:34 PM

Sep 2016

She is so upset because her kids attend good public schools in SF. They are of Asian Indian descent and she is afraid for her kids because they are brown and full of confidence and thinks Texas schools are hell holes. She has been urging her hubby to find a job in the Bay Area so they don't have to move.

TexasTowelie

(112,236 posts)

2. I don't think that is a fair assessment.

Reply to kimbutgar (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 15, 2016, 11:46 PM

Sep 2016

There are good schools and bad schools in Texas. Some of the schools will have students and faculty that are more racially sensitive than others, but it depends mostly on location. My advice would be for them to find a temporary location in the city they are moving to so that they can get a better idea of finding a permanent location that will meet their needs not only for which schools their children attend, but for other social relationships that their family want.

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