Austin, TX –
Upon conclusion of the legislative session without passage of school finance reform or property tax relief legislation, Gov. Rick Perry today outlined a series of actions he will take in the coming days to implement education reform using executive authority.
"My resolve to reform public education remains absolutely unchanged," Perry said. "Texans have demanded reform, they have been promised reform, and I intend to deliver reform."
"I want Texans to be assured: even though the legislature did not act, I will," Perry added. "In the coming days and weeks, I will work to implement education reform using the constitutional authority of the executive branch. And today the very first action I am taking is to initiate a budget execution order to pay for textbooks because students need the newest materials in the classroom as soon as possible."
Perry's budget execution order includes $295 million for health, foreign language and fine arts textbooks. Last week, Perry ordered the Texas Education Agency to allow school districts to begin ordering these books and assured publishers the state would provide the necessary funding through legislation or budget execution. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick have already expressed their support for this budget execution order for textbooks, which must now be approved by the Legislative Budget Board.
Perry also announced that he has directed Education Commissioner Shirley Neeley to raise the minimum teacher salary schedule effective immediately so that 8,000 teachers will receive the pay increases they expected after the conclusion of the regular session. While this pay increase was removed from the budget by the legislature in the first special session, Perry said that he believes state law makes it clear that whenever additional money is put into the education funding formulas, the minimum salary schedule must rise.
In addition to funding textbooks in the governor's proposed budget execution order, Perry also called for funding several other state priorities, including:
- $200 million in state aid to increase rates paid to nursing homes that care for frail and infirm Texans.
- $13 million to increase the personal needs allotment for nursing home patients from $45 a day to $60 a day.
- Up to $76.2 million in additional state funding for trauma centers.
- $48.5 million to fund operations at the Irma Rangel Pharmacy School in Kingsville and the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso "because it is high time the state kept its commitment to these institutions," Perry said.
Perry said he shared the disappointment of millions of taxpayers, teachers and parents of the legislature's failure to act on property tax relief legislation and education reform.
"I have not ruled out another special session on school finance down the road should the legislature find the collective will to finish its work," Perry said. "But for now, it is abundantly clear that no such will exists, and I see no value in calling lawmakers back to Austin at this time."
Perry said the conclusion of this special session represents only a temporary victory for the special interests that want to keep their tax loopholes open and maintain the status quo in education.
"I will keep fighting every day for a better compensation system for teachers, more education dollars directed into the classroom and real property tax relief that includes lower rates and protections for taxpayers against rising appraisals," Perry said. "I know that many lawmakers, and millions of Texans who must continue to make their voices heard, will join me in this great cause."
"While I am frustrated and disappointed that lawmakers have not passed education reform and property tax relief, I do not believe the interests of Texans are served by fault-finding or finger-pointing," Perry said. "No one wins when politicians play the blame game, least of all their constituents back home."
"I choose to focus on the future and what can still be done to improve classroom performance for our schoolchildren, improve compensation for Texas teachers and ensure that every taxpayer dollar spent on education makes the most difference in the life of a child," Perry said.
Textbook purchases - $294.5 million
Gov. Perry proposes authorizing the Texas Education Agency to transfer $294.5 million from other existing appropriations to fund Proclamation 2002 textbooks with the understanding that the legislature will restore that funding later. Another $25 million in transfer authority will be provided to fund student success initiatives.
Personal needs allowance increase - $13 million
This funding increases the personal needs allowance from $45 to $60 month. This allowance is used by nursing facility clients for purchase of personal care items.
Nursing home rate increase - $200 million
Gov. Perry has consistently opposed legislative efforts to impose a tax on Texans who are in nursing homes. During the 2005 session, the legislature had moved $200 million from nursing home reimbursements to cover a shortfall in the budget, anticipating that a "granny tax" would pass. When that tax failed to pass, nursing homes funds were not restored to nursing home rate reimbursement. The governor's action will increase state aid to nursing homes to improve the quality of care for patients.
Debt service at UT-Dallas - $15 million
This proposal will provide funding for debt service payments to the University of Texas at Dallas for facilities construction that will enhance engineering and computer science programs at the University of Texas at Dallas. Leadership had agreed to provide the funding for debt service payments with Tuition Revenue Bonds, but the legislature failed to pass a TRB bill, and the governor believes the state must live up to its commitment.
UTMB-Galveston National Biocontainment Lab - $5 million
This funding is for the debt service on the state's share of one of two National Biocontainment Laboratories for which the institution has received a $110 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.
Texas Tech Medical Center - El Paso - $38.5 million
The Texas Legislature approved construction of the medical school in 2001 but has consistently failed to approve funding to make the school fully operational. This money will provide operating expenses for the medical school.
Texas A&M University - Irma Rangel Pharmacy School - $10 million
The Texas Legislature approved construction of the pharmacy school in 2001 but has consistently failed to approve funding to open the school. This money will provide operating expenses for the school.
Adjutant General debt services - $3 million
The governor vetoed funding for the Texas Military Facilities Commission and moved functions of that agency to the Adjutant General, saving $24.8 million. However, the Adjutant General's office must now make debt service payments on military facilities, and this proposal will accomplish that goal.
Arts Commission- $0.3 million
The governor vetoed $531,000 in funding for a new computer system at the Texas Commission on Arts. However, embedded in that line item appropriation for computers was salary for three employees at the Arts Commission. This proposal will maintain staffing levels at the Arts Commission.
Cord blood - carry forward
This provides a total of $2.5 million state match for locally raised funds to start a donor umbilical cord blood bank at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center.
Trauma - Fund Trauma at amount equal to unappropriated balances - $76.2 million
The legislature continued trauma funding at 2004-05 funding levels despite the fact that an additional $76.2 million is projected to be collected in this fund. This proposal would allow actual dollars collected, above the legislatively appropriated amounts, to be disbursed to trauma centers.
Continue DIR Executive Director/CTO currently authorized salary
Legislative leadership had agreed to a salary of $175,000 for the executive director of the Department of Information Resources. In the appropriations Bill, however, the salary was cut. This continues funding for the state Chief Technology Officer and executive director at the salary authorized in 2004. DIR will use existing funds to restore the salary.
Center for Values in Medicine and Technology - $0.15 million
Funds will be used to provide training at the University of Texas at Dallas Graduate School of Arts and Humanities in medical ethics to address new technologies.