CISD Legislative Priorities for 2019

With the legislature in session, it is important to inform you of legislative priorities that affect Carthage ISD.  Below are the district's priorities and why they are important to CISD.

1. Reduce amount of recapture funds taken from CISD (Robin Hood).
1. CISD has sent between $7M - $10M every year to the state.
2. This amount represents approximately 1/4 of the CISD budget.
3. 44% or 450 of 1031 Texas schools districts pay recapture every year.
2. Increase state funding to ALL TEXAS SCHOOLS.
1. With the loss of ASATR (Additional State Aid for Tax Relief), CISD lost an additional $7M in state funding. (This is in addition to recapture)
2. Loss of ASATR funding was the sole reason so many positions in CISD were eliminated in 2016-18.
3. Increase funds to benefit all educator salaries and benefits.
1. Teacher salaries have not kept up with the cost of living and inflation.
2. Health insurance premiums have increased, and benefits have decreased, which has resulted in increased costs on all state employees, thus a net loss to employees.
4. Take care of retired teachers and future retired educators
1. TRS (Texas Retirement System) has decreased its commitment to health insurance by increasing costs for retired teachers.
2. TRS lowered the rate of return assumptions which negatively affected the future of cost of living raises for ALL TEXAS TEACHERS.
3. Changes to TRS negatively impacts all teachers including those who are not yet retired but are currently paying into the system.

If you would like to see changes made in Austin, please contact your representatives in Austin.  

1. CLICK HERE to contact Senator Bryan Hughes
2. CLICK HERE to contact Representative Chris Paddie
3. CLICK HERE to contact any Texas Senator
4. CLICK HERE to contact any Texas Representative