What we reported: Tomball and Magnolia ISDs adopted balanced budgets for the 2018-19 fiscal year despite decreasing state funding and growing enrollments. TISD changed the start date of its fiscal year for FY 2019-20 to shorten the current fiscal year and avoid a deficit. MISD sought new funding in August via a tax ratification election, which voters did not approve.
The latest: The Texas Commission on Public School Finance—established by the 85th Texas Legislature—released a draft report to the Legislature on Dec. 19 with its recommendations for improving the public school finance system, which include: shifting the system toward outcomes-based funding, changing the allotment per student and reducing the growth in districts’ recapture payments. The 86th Legislature is expected to discuss school finance reform in 2019.