State
BY HANNAH NORTON
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick outlines priorities for final stretch of regular session Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick sat down with Community Impact on April 2 to discuss the final stretch of Texas’ 140-day regular legislative session, which ends June 2. The former state senator from north- west Harris County was first elected to his current role, in which he oversees the Senate, in 2014. How would an education savings account program, which would give parents public funds to spend on private education, impact public school funding? When it comes to school funding, most of the education and $1 billion for school choice. There are 5.5 million students in Texas public schools, and there’s going to be 100,000 [eligible for] school choice [funding]. There’s just no way that that undermines the school system. In large Texas cities, Senate Bill 15 seeks to reduce minimum residential lot sizes for new neighborhoods. Why is the Senate focused on land use and zoning this session? It’s not a surprise to anyone that the cost of
schools that are having a problem ... it’s because the money that all schools received during COVID[-19], the federal government warned them that it’s one- time money. ... Some school districts went out and hired people [or raised salaries] with that money. Our funding for education is higher than it’s ever been. This year, in total, it’s going to be close to $96 billion, with over $80 billion from the state and additional money from the [federal government]. We’re spending [about $80 billion] for public
housing is going up. ... We have to make it easier to buy a home. One of the things that increases the cost of homes is lot size: the bigger the lot, the more the house costs. Anything we can do to streamline the building process, make it more efficient, so that there aren’t as many fees and delays involved, and [reduce] lot sizes—whatever we can do to make housing more affordable is a big step.
MARIE LEONARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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