Austin ISD’s budget crisis is not a failure of local schools—it’s the predictable result of a state funding system that siphons local tax dollars out of our community.
Roughly half of AISD’s revenue is sent back to the State of Texas through school finance “recapture,” meaning that when Austin residents pay more in property taxes, much of that money never reaches Austin classrooms.
Local officials should use dollars that stay local to subsidize our schools.
While over 50% of AISD’s tax revenue is confiscated by the state, 100% of property taxes raised by other local entities such as Travis County and Central Health stay in our community. That makes school-based services funded by these entities far more cost-effective for the people who live here, and a practical way to stabilize schools while we continue fighting for state-level reform.
While these entities cannot directly fund AISD operations or teacher salaries, they can fund services that support students and families and reduce pressure on school budgets. The City of Austin already funds parent support specialists in AISD schools, and Travis County subsidizes similar positions in Manor and Del Valle ISDs. We can build on that model.
The Real Driver of School Closures
Austin ISD school closures have dominated the headlines in recent months, reflecting real pain felt by families, students, and educators across our community. But if we are serious about solutions, we have to be honest about what’s driving this crisis: structural decisions made by the State of Texas and the federal government, not failures by our local schools.
Through recapture—often called “Robin Hood”—about half of AISD’s revenue is sent to the state, amounting to roughly a quarter of every property tax dollar Austin residents pay. Even when AISD raises local taxes to close a budget shortfall, much of that new revenue flows right back to the state under a flawed, attendance-based funding formula. The result is a system where Austin taxpayers pay more, but Austin schools receive less.
The intent behind recapture (to support districts with fewer local resources) is sound, and those communities should be fully funded. But Texas has chosen to underfund public education overall, while pouring billions into programs like Operation Lone Star that do not strengthen our communities.
Federal policy has compounded the problem. Families worried about immigration enforcement have kept children home, driving attendance—and therefore funding—down even further. The expansion of school vouchers is expected to accelerate these losses, and on top of that, the federal government recently cut roughly $19 million in grant funding to AISD.
Examples of What Local Investment Can Look Like:
- Expand on-campus pre-K so working families can stay in the workforce while kids get a strong start.
County and city funding can expand publicly supported pre-K on AISD campuses, especially in neighborhoods most affected by school closures and enrollment declines. On-campus pre-K helps children arrive kindergarten-ready while allowing parents to remain employed, strengthening both families and the local economy. - Expand after-school programs at neighborhood schools.
After-school programs provide academic support, enrichment, and reliable childcare that working families depend on. Funding these programs through county and city dollars ensures that investments actually reach students instead of being siphoned away by the state. - Pair access with affordability. Scholarships must be part of any serious expansion of pre-K and after-school programs. Local governments can ensure these services are free or low-cost for families who need them most, turning access into real opportunity instead of another barrier.
- Shift costs off AISD and deliver services where students are.
Travis County and Central Health can fund school nurses through on-site clinics, locate EMS units on school campuses, and place county-employed social workers directly in schools. These approaches reduce pressure on AISD’s budget while delivering critical services in the place students already spend their days.
Why This Matters for Travis County
The point is simple: there are ways to work within a broken system to reduce the burden on local taxpayers while still supporting our schools. Doing so requires coordination across local governments and a clear understanding of which dollars are most effective for the people who live here. That kind of collaboration, and that kind of fiscal clarity, is exactly what Travis County needs right now. That’s why I’m running for Travis County Commissioner.
