Keller Independent School District voted on Monday to withhold its next mandated “Robin Hood” payment over an alleged lack of transparency from the state about where the funds are being sent.
During a specially-called meeting, trustees from the district voted 5-1 to withhold next year’s state-mandated recapture payment.
These recapture payments are part of a funding system in which the state collects tax dollars from property-wealthy districts and redistributes the funds to districts that are property-poor, according to WFAA.
In 1994, when the “Robin Hood” recapture system was implemented, the state collected roughly $127 million from 34 districts. Since then, the program has grown to include 160 districts paying out over $3 billion each year, as reported by WFAA.
“Last month, we sent about $2.5 million to Austin in the form of attendance credits,” said Board President Charles Randklev during Monday’s school board meeting, per The Texas Scorecard.
“To date, we have yet to receive a single penny from Austin to help offset inflation, increase the basic allotment, or increase salaries for our hardworking educators.”
The district has reportedly questioned the state as to where the funds are being sent and has asked for support in increasing the allotment on a per-student basis, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
Trustee Chris Coker criticized the state during the meeting, saying it is “sitting on a multi-billon-dollar surplus.”
“The argument in lieu of them giving us more money is we should give them more money instead of funding schools appropriately is absolutely asinine,” he said, per Fox 4. “They are constantly looking for ways to get more money from the districts.”
Ruthie Keyes, the only trustee not to vote, spoke against withholding the payment, citing concerns that the state may sue Keller ISD.
“We do have a fiduciary responsibility to this district, and as part of that fiduciary responsibility, I think it’s protecting our funds,” said Keyes, per KETR. “I think what we’re telling people is, ‘we don’t have to follow the law.'”
There is currently no indication of how the state will respond to the vote, but Keller ISD is now the second district to withhold the recapture payment.
Spring Branch ISD, located outside of Houston, unanimously voted to withhold the payments from the state last month.
Randklev referenced the vote in Spring Branch and said Keller would join their “colleagues from Spring Branch ISD in saying enough is enough,” according to The Texas Scorecard.
