School district spending promotes a system that prioritizes the needs of the education industry over the needs of students, according to a new video by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The second episode in a recently launched video series, “Suitable Provision: An Inside Look at Education Spending in Texas,” details how billions of dollars intended to improve educational outcomes are instead siphoned off into the pockets of administrators, lobbyists, consultants, and contractors, or spent to service the staggering amount of debt owed by the schools.
“The Heist” features numerous examples of reckless and wasteful spending, such as exorbitant superintendent salaries, inflated contracts, needlessly extravagant stadiums and Jumbotrons, and absurdly wasteful items like water parks, golf courses and even planes.
“The Heist is a massive transfer of billions of dollars from taxpayers into a machine that maintains, grows and protects a system designed to ensure taxes always go up, the money always comes in, and there’s no accountability for how it’s spent,” the video explains.
All this spending occurs while educational outcomes remain stagnant or get worse.
“It’s time for accountability in the system,” says TPPF Campaign Director Mandy Drogin. “These are precious resources that are being wasted at the expense of Texas students.”