Welcome
In 1949 the concept of local control entered the public school finance system when Texas Legislature adopted the Gilmer-Aikin Act. For the first time, funding from local tax bases was recognized as the key to allowing local districts to flourish.
However, the current school finance system is making it extremely difficult for local communities to devote extra resources to their schools. Districts must have the meaningful discretion to make decisions that reflect the values of their local community. Local discretion is lost when payments to the state reach 50 percent or more.
Revenue-Contributing Schools understand they are, and will continue to be, part of the solution. But it is neither possible, nor desirable, to take enough local tax revenue from Revenue-Contributing Schools to fix the state school finance system. The state must correct funding issues without destroying the schools districts that have already contributed $15 billion to the benefit of all Texas schoolchildren.
Vital to Public Education
The 354 Revenue-Contributing School Districts in Texas – through their local taxpayers – play a vital role in improving the quality of education for all schoolchildren in the state.
Designated as Chapter 41 districts in the Texas Education Code, these Revenue-Contributing School have added more than $15 billion to the state public education budget since 1993, with many districts giving up more than 50 percent of their locally raised tax money.
In the 2011-12 school year, state lawmakers and the Texas Education Agency are counting on local taxpayers in the relatively small number of Revenue-Contributing Schools to put another $1,120,000,000 into the school finance system.
How Much is Enough? Read more
Maintaining Local Control
The Gilmer-Aikin Act, adopted by the Texas Legislature in 1949, established a public school finance system that, for the first time, included funding from local tax bases. This revenue was to be used for local enrichment. More than 60 years ago, local control was recognized as the key for local districts to flourish. The same remains true today.
The current school finance system, however, is making it extremely difficult for local communities to devote any extra resources to the educational needs of Texas schoolchildren. Read more
Top Givers
Under the statewide school finance system, Revenue-Contributing Schools have paid almost $15 billion ($14,853,866,673) in locally raised taxes to the state since 1993. This money is driven into the education system exclusively by local taxpayers exercising local control.
When taxpayers in Revenue-Contributing School Districts decide to spend more on their local schools, it drives significant new money to the state. Local discretion is essential to keeping the state funding system healthy. Without local control, the incentive to continue sending money to the state disappears.
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