FORT WORTH, Texas, March 4 (UPI) -- Texas House Democrats Friday rolled out a plan to revamp state school financing and cut property taxes.
The Democrats offered their plan as an alternative to a Republican sponsored bill that will be debated next week in the Texas House. The GOP plan boosts school funding by $3 billion and also offers property tax relief.
Rep. Roberto Alonzo of Dallas said the Democrats' plan offers "more fair and equitable provisions for a quality education for all Texas children." One provision would raise teacher pay from 38th in the nation to the national average.
Republicans say the Democrats' plan requires a tax hike and doesn't offer the property tax relief Texas taxpayers were promised.
A state judge ordered Texas to reform the school finance plan to provide an adequate education for students after more than 300 districts filed a lawsuit.
