Lawmakers agree to shrink original proposal of cutting over $8 billion.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The leaders of the Texas House of Representatives have agreed to $4 billion in cuts to public education almost half the amount they originally proposed. The Star-Telegram is reporting that lawmakers have accepted the Senates budget recommendations which were backed by many Texas education groups. Although there are still unresolved issues over the education budget the latest breakthrough means that the extra mid-summer legislative session will no longer be required.
Lonnie Hollingsworth of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association called the Senate version of the education funding bill their preferred version:
Given the available options that is the best outcome. Given what was on the table this is good news."
One of the issues still on the table is the amount that will be withdrawn from the states rainy-day fund. Negotiations are also continuing over higher-education funding although lawmakers have indicated that they are close to figuring out how to plug the estimated $1 billion budget deficit.
Were pretty darned close" said House Speaker Joe Straus. Earlier in the day Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst the Senates presiding officer told reporters that its moving in the right direction."
Education funding marked one of the last sticking points in the negotiations over the Texas state budget. Lawmakers were attempting to close a $27 billion state budget deficit and the two chambers proposals for education funding differed widely.
The House version originally called for a $7.8 billion reduction for K-12 spending before lawmakers agreed to the Senates plan for $4 billion in cuts. The compromise came about after state Comptroller Susan Combs announced $1.2 billion in additional revenue in her revised revenue estimates last week.
More funding will come from $2.9 billion in revenue measures currently making their way through the House.
