HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District has its results on Proposition 1.
The prop was voted against by voters at a 62 percent to 37 percent rate.
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In what is commonly referred to as the "Robin Hood" school-funding law, Houston ISD is required to send tax dollars to the state. This year's bill is $165 million.
HISD trustees decided to add the item to the Nov. 8 ballot.
The school finance law classifies HISD as a "property wealthy" district because of rising property values, so it must send tens of millions of dollars in locally generated property taxes to the state. However, three-quarters of the district's students come from low-income households.
The district claims it cannot pay the money unless voters approve the payment.
HISD said the Texas education commissioner could remove the most valuable commercial properties from HISD's property tax roll and place those properties in a different district.
The district said it will continue to work with lawmakers and the Houston business community to come up with a long-term path to a school finance solution.
"The Texas Legislature reconvenes in January of 2017," HISD Board of Education President Manuel RodrĂguez Jr. said. "We look forward to working with the Texas Legislature and the business community during the upcoming session to identify a solution that lessens the impact of recapture on our classrooms and the community at-large."
The district also claims its budget for the upcoming school year includes $95 million in cuts to offset the loss.