Fort Bend ISD school board president Kristin Tassin reflected on the state of Texas public school funding Friday and how the district has responded. During a seminar at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Tassin, who is running for the state Senate District 17 seat, said advocating for an updated school funding formula is among her concerns. “The state passed a budget that has the lowest percentage of state dollars invested into education than has happened in 20 years,” she said. “So even though the dollar amount rises, the percentage amount is lower.” She is challenging incumbent Joan Huffman for the Republican nomination. Huffman has been in office since 2008 and sits on the Senate's Criminal Justice, State Affairs and Finance committee. Tassin, an intellectual property, business and contract litigation attorney with the firm Dry & Tassin PLLC, gained statewide attention earlier this year when she penned an open letter addressed to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticizing his approach to state education funding and school vouchers. In an attempt to generate more operating revenue, the FBISD Board of Trustees approved a 2017 tax rate of $1.32 per $100 of taxable value in September, representing a 2-cent drop from the 2016 tax rate of $1.34 per $100. In doing so, the board voted to increase the maintenance and operations tax rate—which funds the general operating budget—by two cents and decrease the interest and sinking tax rate—which pays for debt services—by four cents. The move will increase FBISD’s total general fund revenue by $18.8 million, Tassin said, $11.6 million of which is allocated by the state's funding formula. However, FBISD will still need to cut approximately $12 million from its 2018-19 budget , Tassin said. In the last decade, the state has decreased funding for education, shifting responsibility to local taxpayers, Tassin said. The state covered 45 percent of costs for the 2007-08 school year but now only covers 29 percent of costs for the 2017-18 school year, according to FBISD staff. “We are putting together a committee in the near future,” Tassin said. “That committee is going to study ways for us to be able to cut that budget and get us to where we need to be while still retaining top talent and educating over 75,000 kids every day.” Student enrollment has increased 12 percent since 2007, according to FBISD staff. Tassin said this further limits the funding available per student, which is currently at $13,237. Compounding the issue is the number of unfunded state mandates voted by state legislators, she said. “One of my biggest priorities is local control,” Tassin said. “If we don’t have to put the money [towards unfunded mandates], then it goes back into our maintenance and operations, and we’re able to put it in the classroom,” Tassin said. The board of trustees hosts a listening tour 6 p.m. Monday at Quail Valley Middle School, 3019 FM 1092, Missouri City, to answer questions and address concerns parents’ may have.