AUSTIN, TX (AP) - A district court judge has ruled that the tax
system Texas uses to finance public schools
is unconstitutional.
Judge John Dietz ruled in favor of more than
600 school districts responsible for
educating three-quarters of the state's 5 million-plus public school students.
After a trial that took more than three
months, Dietz determined the Legislature has not adequately funded schools as required under the Texas
Constitution. In 2011, the Legislature cut $5.4 billion in funding by rewriting the formula used to
distribute state money.
Dietz ruled from the bench and is expected to
provide a detailed opinion later. The attorney general's office is expected to
appeal the case to the Texas Supreme Court.
All content ©Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and KCBD, a Raycom Media Station. 