Budget & Legislative Advocacy Information
Aledo ISD Budget & Legislative Advocacy Information
Legislative Session Updates from Aledo ISD
Aledo ISD Statement - May 6, 2024
It’s been more than nine weeks (March 1) since Aledo ISD learned that the Texas Attorney General had filed suit against the district, alleging that the district engaged in electioneering ahead of the March 4 Primary Election because the district’s email to the community in late February was, “discussing the school’s budget and how voting in the primary election would greatly impact Aledo schools.”
Since then:
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Aledo ISD was served the lawsuit on March 25, 2024.
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AISD and its legal counsel have repeatedly asked for specific information on what constituted electioneering in the email, and those repeated questions have gone unanswered.
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Aledo ISD and the Attorney General’s office have filed an agreed-upon order with the court; this agreement was made by Aledo ISD to avoid the cost of ongoing litigation and to focus our attention on much more pressing matters.
The order essentially states that Aledo ISD will continue to follow state laws related to electioneering; therefore, Aledo ISD will continue to do what we do: communicate transparently, provide factual information to our community and staff, and encourage all Bearcats to vote in every national, state and local election.
Aledo ISD is focused on continued exceptional experiences for our students and staff as we close out the school year amid a serious budget deficit similar to that being experienced by districts across the state due to a lack of sufficient funding by the Texas legislature. Because of this, we will also continue to be transparent with our community and to advocate for our Bearcat schoolchildren and their families, our Aledo ISD staff, and our community public schools. In Aledo, #BearcatsVote.
This update addresses the projected $3.8 million budget shortfall Aledo ISD faces and summarizes the Aledo ISD 2023-2024 budget reductions as well as planned budget reductions for the 2024-2025 school year.
Aledo ISD is facing a lawsuit from the Texas Attorney General's office, which alleges the district engaged in electioneering through an email discussing the school's budget and the impact of the primary election. The district denies the accusation, asserting the email was informative and not a violation of state law, and emphasizes its commitment to transparency and encouraging civic duty.
Aledo ISD faces a critical budget crisis, with a $3.8 million cut anticipated for the 2024-2025 school year due to historic inflation and prioritization of private/home school vouchers by state leaders. The update emphasizes potential measures to address the shortfall, including cuts to personnel-related expenses, and urges community involvement in the March 5, 2024, Primary Election.
The Texas Legislature's fourth special session, which concluded on December 5, did not address the funding concerns for schools across Texas. Aledo ISD remains committed to advocating for increased public school funding and expresses gratitude for community engagement.
The fourth special session of the Texas Legislature has commenced, prompted by disagreements in the third session regarding public school funding, private school vouchers, and border security.
The Aledo ISD community is encouraged to continue reaching out to local legislators regarding Senate Bill 1 (private school vouchers) and Senate Bill 2 (public school funding).
Aledo ISD is facing funding challenges (Texas ranks 43rd in per-student funding) and will be forced to make cuts due to an unchanged funding formula since 2019, with the added concern of private school voucher negotiations impacting adequate public school funding.
The Aledo ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to join a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over changes to the accountability rating system, and they passed a resolution opposing taxpayer-funded private school vouchers, emphasizing concerns about academic standards, public accountability, and potential negative impacts on the public school system.
The Aledo ISD Board of Trustees, recognizing the constitutional mandate for an efficient system of public free schools, opposes education savings accounts and voucher schemes diverting public funds to private schools. The resolution underscores concerns about accountability, the lack of academic standards in private schools, and the potential negative impact on public school funding, urging the Texas Legislature to reject such diversions.
The Aledo ISD Board of Trustees has adopted a lower tax rate for the fifth consecutive year, reducing it by more than 16 cents for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, resulting in a total reduction of nearly 39 cents or a 24.3% decrease since 2018-2019.
The Aledo ISD administration and Board of Trustees, while preparing to welcome students for the new school year, have expressed gratitude for the community's support in growing greatness and outlined the impact of recent legislation on the district's budget.
The 88th Texas Legislature concluded without passing new property tax relief or additional funding for public schools, but Aledo ISD will continue to decrease its Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate for the fifth consecutive year due to a bill (HB3) passed in 2019. The district anticipates an additional required M&O rate reduction of 4 to 8 cents, leading to continued tax rate decreases for residents, and potential further relief from legislators in the ongoing Special Session.
Aledo ISD receives a set amount of funding from both local property taxes and state funding. As property tax revenue increases, state funding decreases - but the set amount of funding Aledo ISD receives stays the same. When this happens, the state keeps their share and uses it to fund initiatives other than public education.
A list of Aledo ISD's legislative priorities for the 88th Texas Legislative Session.
The legislative priorities, drafted by the board's subcommittee, focus on protecting local control, increasing public school funding, supporting Texas public school students and educators, and ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of local and state tax dollars during the 88th Legislative Session.
Quick Links
Aledo ISD Finance Facts
- Texas falls behind in per-pupil funding
- Our funding is based on attendance, not enrollment
- As property values increase, state funding stays static
- Costs have risen, but state funding hasn't
- Aledo has lost $12 million in recapture to the state
- Aledo ISD falls behind in voter participation
Texas falls behind in per-pupil funding
Our funding is based on attendance, not enrollment
As property values increase, state funding stays static
Costs have risen, but state funding hasn't
Aledo has lost $12 million in recapture to the state
Aledo ISD falls behind in voter participation
Bearcat Budget 101 - Part 1
Bearcat Budget 101 - Part 2
Bearcat Budget 101 Presentations
Where does Texas school funding come from?
My property taxes increased. Why is Aledo ISD struggling with funding?
How is school funding used?
Who represents Aledo ISD?
State Representative Glenn Rogers:
(512) 463-0656;
glenn.rogers@house.texas.gov
@RogersforTexas
Senator Drew Springer:
(512) 463-0130;
drew.springer@senate.texas.gov
@DrewSpringer
Senator Phil King:
(512) 463-0110;
phil.king@senate.texas.gov
@PhilKingTX
What to say in your messaging
Please thank our legislators for their service to our state and then tell them:
- You support public schools and are FOR our school children and teachers in Aledo ISD
- What makes you proud of your community’s public schools
- What it means to be a Bearcat
- The things that are important to you that require additional funding to maintain:
- A program that has made a difference in your child’s life
- A teacher or staff member who has made a difference in your child’s life
- An experience that your child and/or family has had in your public schools