Area officials deride Gov. Perry school plan

The Baytown Sun -- “Gloom and doom” permeated Goose Creek’s administration building this week when administrators learned about Gov. Rick Perry’s new plan to fund Texas schools, said superintendent Barbara Sultis.

“Here we are planning for a budget and excited about growth in the district, and when you hear something like this, it hits you in the base of your stomach,” Sultis said.

Area districts — Anahuac, Barbers Hill, Crosby and Goose Creek — all have reached the $1.50 per $100 of valuation property tax cap. With no way to funnel more money into their schools, superintendents say they need a plan that sends “new money,” and they are wary of Perry’s proposal.

The Republican governor’s plan would cut property taxes by $6 billion and add $2.5 billion for Texas public schools by taxing “sin” — cigarettes, adult entertainment and gambling. Perry plugged his plan by saying Texans want “action” and “a real property tax cut.”

Under the proposed plan, Perry said residential property taxes would go directly to schools, while business taxes would be collected by the state. This is a problem, in Sultis’ view.

Goose Creek school district funds are heavily supported by local industries and businesses, which make up 80 percent of the district’s property tax dollars, Sultis said. Only 20 percent comes from residential property taxes.

One concern for school districts like Goose Creek is that businesses have an investment in the quality of education at local schools. The plan would change this, Sultis said.

“It (means) people have no ownership, and that is the whole point of living in a community,” she said.

For Goose Creek and other districts, not knowing how businesses’ tax money would be redistributed to Texas schools is another concern. Perry said the money would be allocated equitably but he has not made it clearer.

“It’s scary when it goes into the state coffer because you don’t know if you’re going to get more money or less,” said superintendent Linda Kay Barnhart of Anahuac school district.

In one minute, Sultis said, a whole new class of poor districts could be created. Although the state classifies industrial districts like Goose Creek, La Porte and Deer Park as property-wealthy, the new plan could turn those tables.

“Residential property dollars don’t bring enough money by a long shot to support our school districts,” he said.