Why school bond and tax increase elections failed across Texas
Texas voters sent mixed messages Tuesday when it comes to funding public schools.
At the top of the ticket, they strongly backed Democratic candidates who campaigned on support for public education. But farther down the ballot, they rejected nearly all school tax rate increases and bond proposals.
Across the five biggest cities in Texas, two dozen school districts pitched a bond or tax increase to voters. Only two saw their proposals pass, and even then, barely: Schertz-Cibolo ISD in San Antonio and Manor ISD near Austin.
And Spring ISD, which just avoided state intervention, saw a proposal to increase property taxes fail for the second time in two years.
Since school ballot proposals are usually scrutinized most heavily by fiscal conservatives, their widespread defeat coinciding with a historic blue wave in Texasconfounded experts.
“It’s just so surprising to see this happen,” said Jon Taylor, a professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
