Abby
enthusiast
Posts: 124
Reg: 01-10-03
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10-10-11 12:02 PM - Post#140530
In response to txfeinbergs
Plano ISD is having major issues! Enrollment has decreased 20%. Parents pulling kids out of public schools for private schools. We may pay a few dollars more but our kids get a better education
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starrlac
enthusiast
Posts: 644
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 11-03-00
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10-10-11 12:18 PM - Post#140531
In response to txfeinbergs
Also, Plano and Frisco, as well as the other surrounding districts, all get more per student from the state. I know it's been said before, but I think it bears repeating.
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txfeinbergs
member
Posts: 27
Reg: 09-30-11
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10-10-11 12:53 PM - Post#140533
In response to starrlac
Also, Plano and Frisco, as well as the other surrounding districts, all get more per student from the state. I know it's been said before, but I think it bears repeating.
I have seen that statement many times, but I have not seen the reason why. Does Austin just hate Allen? I assume there is some criteria for determining how much each school district gets.
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mgrayar
enthusiast
Posts: 3164
Reg: 09-25-09
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 10-10-11 01:04 PM - Post#140534
In response to txfeinbergs
With funding frozen at 2006 levels, Allen is a victim of it's own success (ie growth).
That's my short understanding.
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vrs
enthusiast
Posts: 2631
Loc: Allen, Texas
Reg: 04-20-00
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10-10-11 01:29 PM - Post#140537
In response to txfeinbergs
Also, Plano and Frisco, as well as the other surrounding districts, all get more per student from the state. I know it's been said before, but I think it bears repeating.
I have seen that statement many times, but I have not seen the reason why. Does Austin just hate Allen? I assume there is some criteria for determining how much each school district gets.
Here is an excerpt from an email I sent one of my neighbors recently addressing this very question:
Thanks for writing. Texas school finance is just a mess. If you are not angry when you finish reading this email, then I did not explain it well enough.
Texas school funding (for operations - debt service is completely different) is a combination of state and local monies. The state has a formula that determines the number of dollars per student per penny of tax effort that a district can receive for operations. The main variables in the formula are average daily attendance, number of low income and special needs students, and property wealth per student in the district. Also, even though it is called "wealth equalization" the formulas actually function more as "wealth disparity damping" Rich districts still get more dollars per student and poor districts got fewer. Districts like Prosper and Lovejoy also get more just for being small.
"Rich" and "poor" are defined by total property wealth per student. Plano is a wealthy district. All that big commercial property, shopping areas, corporate HQ, medical facilities, etc. figure into their wealth per student. Allen was "poor." Before most of our recent commercial/retail construction hit the tax rolls we were mostly modest housetops divided by school kids so we could not touch the half million dollars plus per student of our neighbors. Even Allen's expensive housetops have mostly been constructed in the past few years.
So, anyway, the formula yields a target revenue per student. If your local property tax comes up short of that, the state makes up the difference. If your local property tax yields more than that, you have to send money back to the state. (That was "Robin Hood")
Okay, in 2007, two things happened. First, the state froze allowable funding per student at 2006 levels. That means all this nice growth we've had here in Allen the last 5 years added NOTHING to Allen ISD operating dollars per student. The tax rate stayed the same, your house value went up, your tax bill went up, all this new commercial and expensive residential property came online, the district raised a LOT more money locally, but revenue per student stayed flat because the state just kept cutting its subsidy to keep the yield per student at the 2006 target level. Basically, the state of Texas just co-opted ALL our property tax revenue increases for the last five years.
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Maurice
Community Expert
Posts: 3981
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 12-03-01
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10-10-11 02:02 PM - Post#140539
In response to Al C
It's not just that times are tight, it's past the point of being sick and tired how many of us feel when we get double and triple dipped into our pockets because of poor planning and administering of funds by others. I know my wife and I are very annoyed at being double dipped for the stadium and TRE, yet another tax we'll pay for zero gain. We have no kids so do not benefit at all by either of those taxes, just another way we subsidize others and there are already too many of those taxes.
I hope there's FULL accountability for the spending of the extra tax dollars and that it is ALL for education only. Not for iPad's, iPhones or other tech toys that are WANTS for teachers and admins but for whatever real education materials the schools that are NEEDS. Any frivolous use of the extra tax dollars should be dealt with as harsh as possible in a court of law.
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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10-10-11 02:18 PM - Post#140541
In response to Maurice
See VRS's post directly above yours. No sense punishing local kids and local employees because of the mess Austin created.
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DavidP
newbie
Posts: 18
Reg: 12-01-10
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10-10-11 02:53 PM - Post#140545
In response to Al C
Well all I had to do was increase the deductible on my homeowners insurance and the savings will just about cover the increased taxes. The TRE passed and the band aid has been used.
New chapter for next year will read about the same with more doom and gloom for education budget shortfall except there won't be any discussion about a TRE to pass or fail.
And do you think anything will be done in Austin? Absolutely nothing! The folks supporting the passage of the TRE are happy as a lark and nothing will change.
Why will nothing change you ask? You only have to look at the pathetic number of voters who took the time to vote. If voters, whatever their position on issues, won't take the time to vote in their own city (backyard so to speak) do you really think they have any inclination to care about anything in Austin! Dream On!
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pup
enthusiast
Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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10-10-11 03:10 PM - Post#140546
In response to DavidP
The folks supporting the passage of the TRE are happy as a lark and nothing will change.
I'm not.
Now is the time we ALL work together to change Austin, further bickering amongst ourselves is counter productive and solves nothing.
Let's take all this frustration and channel it where it belongs. Austin.
It's high time the cheap shots among neighbors and friends here in Allen stop, IMHO.
This battle is over, but the war remains. Take it to Austin. Take back Austin.
I think we can all agree on that.
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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10-10-11 03:29 PM - Post#140547
In response to DavidP
The folks supporting the passage of the TRE are happy as a lark and nothing will change.
No ... not really. I don't necessarily like the idea of higher taxes. Nor do I think this is a long term solution to fix the problem. As you said, it's a band aid.
So the next step is to contact your representatives and senators to take action NOW to assure that this won't happen in the future.
And welcome to Allen Online! 
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txfeinbergs
member
Posts: 27
Reg: 09-30-11
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10-10-11 03:37 PM - Post#140549
In response to pup
The folks supporting the passage of the TRE are happy as a lark and nothing will change.
I'm not.
Now is the time we ALL work together to change Austin, further bickering amongst ourselves is counter productive and solves nothing.
Let's take all this frustration and channel it where it belongs. Austin.
It's high time the cheap shots among neighbors and friends here in Allen stop, IMHO.
This battle is over, but the war remains. Take it to Austin. Take back Austin.
I think we can all agree on that.
It's a little too soon for us that were on the losing end of this "battle" to be all gung-ho about working with you. Emotions are a little too raw still. Its going to take me awhile to get over being completely pissed off (probably not until after I pay my property taxes this year).
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txfeinbergs
member
Posts: 27
Reg: 09-30-11
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10-10-11 03:41 PM - Post#140550
In response to DavidP
Well all I had to do was increase the deductible on my homeowners insurance and the savings will just about cover the increased taxes. The TRE passed and the band aid has been used.
New chapter for next year will read about the same with more doom and gloom for education budget shortfall except there won't be any discussion about a TRE to pass or fail.
And do you think anything will be done in Austin? Absolutely nothing! The folks supporting the passage of the TRE are happy as a lark and nothing will change.
Why will nothing change you ask? You only have to look at the pathetic number of voters who took the time to vote. If voters, whatever their position on issues, won't take the time to vote in their own city (backyard so to speak) do you really think they have any inclination to care about anything in Austin! Dream On!
I fully agree with you. What I will say is I better not hear any complaints at all from anyone about their increased tax bill when they get their revised property tax notice if they did not vote. I will lay into them big time.
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pup
enthusiast
Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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10-10-11 04:06 PM - Post#140554
In response to txfeinbergs
It's a little too soon for us that were on the losing end of this "battle" to be all gung-ho about working with you. Emotions are a little too raw still. Its going to take me awhile to get over being completely pissed off (probably not until after I pay my property taxes this year).
Fair enough...Stay pissed. Stay miserable. It that works for you, great, get after it.
For me, life is far too short to be in a constant state of fury and misery.
I flat refuse to let the almighty dollar bill have that much control over my emotions and state of mind.
Growing up dead broke has that effect, I guess. It did to me anyway.
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Maurice
Community Expert
Posts: 3981
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 12-03-01
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10-10-11 04:25 PM - Post#140561
In response to pup
At this rate Pup, you'll end up living and then going out the same way. ;) Tax, tax, tax, it's the mantra of the new world. It's bad in Austin and at the federal level, time for a major reboot before the implosion.
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pup
enthusiast
Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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10-10-11 04:32 PM - Post#140563
In response to Maurice
I'd rather go out flat broke and happy than miserably pissed at the world.
All that anger can be channeled in to changing Austin instead of kicking the neighbors dogs.
| Pup has left the building. |
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Al C
enthusiast
Posts: 5538
Loc: McKinney/Allen, TX
Reg: 02-16-01
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10-10-11 04:42 PM - Post#140564
In response to Maurice
At this rate Pup, you'll end up living and then going out the same way. ;) Tax, tax, tax, it's the mantra of the new world. It's bad in Austin and at the federal level, time for a major reboot before the implosion.
Vote 'em all out
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readingu
enthusiast
Posts: 705
Reg: 02-08-04
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10-10-11 04:58 PM - Post#140566
In response to pup
miserably pissed at the world.
From most of your post glad to see that you are changing your ways. Congratulations by the way.
Go Arlington Rangers & Allen Americans
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pup
enthusiast
Posts: 3755
Reg: 03-29-06
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10-10-11 05:24 PM - Post#140569
In response to readingu
miserably pissed at the world.
From most of your post glad to see that you are changing your ways.
More trolling from the forum troll.....typical.
Quick Web!!!! Edit this post!!!! The TROLL needs protecting!!!!
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readingu
enthusiast
Posts: 705
Reg: 02-08-04
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10-10-11 05:38 PM - Post#140572
In response to pup
It was a compliment. Really glad that you have no more anger in you.
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Dagwood
member
Posts: 83
Reg: 09-09-11
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10-11-11 07:20 AM - Post#140594
In response to readingu
This is just a general comment, directed at no one in particular. Although I did not vote, not because I didn't agree or disagree, I just didn't. However, I'm glad to see the TRE passed. Why? Becuase I'm married to an Allen teacher. A teacher who, among the few that remain, actually cares about her students both on an individual and collective level, as much as she's allowed to care. Try walking in the shoes of a spouse who comes home daily, worn out from giving their heart and soul, and then some, hoping every student learns and catches on to what's being taught. How sad it is to know that there are parents who will gripe and complain about a teacher, school, or district when many times they themselves are involved very little. Or, if they are involved, it's merely to "take down" the powers that be because the parent themselves are all about "Well, ain't NOBODY gonna mess with me or my kid."
Wake up, smell the coffee, and realize that for the few teachers left that do care for students will benefit from this tax increase. So will the students. So will the parents. So will Allen as a community.
Granted sometimes we do fall on hard times and find it difficult to comprehend why Austin, why Allen does the things they do. But, IMO, until Austin gets get their act straight, we Allen folks will take matters into our own hands. Forget the state, and even the federal folks. Allen's financial reputation is recognized for good reason, something only Washington and Austin could drool over.
In the meantime, my wife has more security in knowing she can continue teaching kids here in Allen for some of you to be proud of having a student in Allen schools. She takes her responsibility seriously, regardless of what some of you or Austin says or does. Some people just thought they worked overtime when they get home. A teacher's work is never done, even while kids are out for the summer. Yet, their pay remains the same, much lower than some of you, without any overtime pay whatsoever.
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