Convenience Big Store: Pearland ISD proposes tax election to offset shortfall inreased by underfunded mandates

How Texas' underfunded mandates are contributing to budget woes for local school districts.

Multiple Houston-area school districts, including Pearland ISD, say they can't staff all of their campuses with armed district police officers as the upcoming school year begins.

Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 3, which goes into effect on Sept. 1, during the most recent regular legislative session. It mandates that districts must have a peace officer, school resource officer or a commissioned peace officer at every school each day and establishes other safety protocols and requirements.

Pearland ISD currently pays $1.3 million to have school resource officers at every junior high and high school. It would cost the district an additional $3.5 million to cover the remaining campuses, said Pearland ISD Superintendent Larry Berger at an Aug.17 community meeting regarding a potential voter-approved tax rate election.

"An almost $5 million bill, (the state) gave us $500,000. We have to make up the difference, but yet we still maintain the same level of funding," he said.

I would like to hear from you. Let me know your thoughts on the state's new requirement and the Pearland ISD proposed voter-tax rate election. Are you for or against the state requiring districts to have an armed officer on all campuses?

Pooja Bhakta, Pearland reporter

pooja.bhakta@houstonchronicle.com

Education

Pearland Superintendent Larry Berger presents a proposed voter-elected tax rate election to district residents at a community meeting on Aug. 17.

Photo by: Pooja Bhakta/Staff Writer

Pearland ISD proposes a possible tax rate election to increase funding by $11M.

Pearland ISD officials say the higher rate would help offset a projected $12.7 million budget shortfall, while being the lowest tax rate in district history.

Need to Know

Pearland Mayor Kevin Cole conducts a 2022 town hall meeting from the West Pearland Library. The city's next town hall meeting will focus on the city's $181.3 million bond election and will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, April 18 at Independence Park, 3449 Pearland Parkway.

Photo by: Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle

Pearland to help residents understand 2024 budget and tax rates at Talk of the Town.

Pearland will host its quarterly Talk of the Town community event centered around the new city budget tomorrow night.

Dry grass and dead trees make for a quick kindling for wildfires.

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

Brazoria County issues burn ban due to threat of wildfires.

To prevent the escalating threat of wildfires due to persistent hot, dry conditions, Brazoria County announced an immediate burn ban.

Openings and Closings

Millar, Inc., a medical manufacturer specializing in pressure sensor-enables devices, opened its new $13 million headquarters and manufacturing facility in Pearland's Lower Kirby District.