| | Under Patrick's leadership of the state Senate, the state pays 52 percent of all public educational expenses, with local districts and colleges and universities responsible for the remainder. In 2010, that number was 61 percent. Patrick still notes that the 52 percent is a majority of the budget. Patrick proposes school vouchers to free the poor from inferior public schools. When the legislature killed the voucher program in 2017, a plan to increase public educational spending by $1.9 billion also failed. Patrick said that he was surprised that legislators "would have voted against both disabled children and a substantial increase for public schools."<ref name=jbrodeskyi>Josh Brodesky, "Patrick cares about public education, but ..." (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 29, 2018, p. F3.</ref> | | Under Patrick's leadership of the state Senate, the state pays 52 percent of all public educational expenses, with local districts and colleges and universities responsible for the remainder. In 2010, that number was 61 percent. Patrick still notes that the 52 percent is a majority of the budget. Patrick proposes school vouchers to free the poor from inferior public schools. When the legislature killed the voucher program in 2017, a plan to increase public educational spending by $1.9 billion also failed. Patrick said that he was surprised that legislators "would have voted against both disabled children and a substantial increase for public schools."<ref name=jbrodeskyi>Josh Brodesky, "Patrick cares about public education, but ..." (commentary), ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 29, 2018, p. F3.</ref> |
| − | Because of the steady decline in state expenditures for public education, school districts push hard for property tax increases or greater assessed values of the properties being taxed. Patrick has urged a cap on property taxes, but in most districts the tax bills steadily mount.<ref name=jbrodesky/> | + | Because of the steady decline in state expenditures for public education, school districts push hard for property tax increases or greater assessed values of the properties being taxed. Patrick has urged a cap on property taxes, but in most districts the tax bills steadily mount.<ref name=jbrodeskyi/> |