Texas Lawmakers Propose School Security Tax Plan
Texas voters could decide whether to tax themselves to pay for armed guards or other public school safety measures.
Schools typically pay for security measures out of their general budgets. The Texas School District Safety Act would allow local schools to set up special taxing districts — if approved by local voters — to raise the money.
The plan is separate from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's call to have the state pay for special weapons and tactical response training for teachers and other school workers.
The Texas PTA called the School District Safety Act a "promising" plan that will "hopefully serve to shift the focus away from arming teachers and principals in our schools, a strategy the Texas PTA does not support."
Under the plan, school districts would have a dedicated source of money to pay for school safety measures. But because it may levy new property or sales taxes, the plan may also require an amendment to the state constitution.