Chandra Villanueva 🦏

Knitter, aspiring circus performer, unapologetically pro-tax, school finance geek, defender of Robin Hood. All tweets are mine, even the school finance ones.

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

ICYMI ET's @ChandraKus testimony about enrollment-based funding for Texas #PubEd @ #TXLege last week.

Read more: https://t.co/9Q8U61pHVL

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

$500 checks don't address Congress' failure to extend the assistance that helped 2 million Texans get health insurance, some for the first time in their lives. Texas health systems are struggling w/out a federal plan & w/out the state's commitment to protecting Texans' health.

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

ET budget policy lead @shannonhalbrook on #TribFest26 prop tax panel notes state general revenue biennial bdgt $150b, tax cuts $50b.

Moderator @JoshuaFechter leans in: “Is that sustainable, Shannon”?

- audience laughter -

“No Josh, no it is not.”

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

“State doesn’t sufficiently fund education where it’s needed … instead it put the money into property tax cuts.” - ET budget/finance policy lead @shannonhalbrook on “Robin Hood” approach to school funding during property tax panel at #TribFest26 #txlege

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

Finance policy lead @shannonhalbrook joined @txtaxpayers @Ron_Nirenberg @amiromar @TribFest26 property tax panel moderated by @joshfechter at #TribFest26. The conversation was … 1/

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

Coverage of Every Texan testimony @ #txlege LBB by @keratx - federal cuts combined with state reductions could weaken programs that Texans rely on for food, health care and social support.

https://t.co/q1UWsgPLI6

[E3 Alliance @E3Alliance]

With profound sadness, we share the passing of our visionary founder, Susan Dawson. Susan is a true Texas legend whose legacy of relentless data-driven change will benefit Texans for generations. #SusanDawson #E3Alliance https://t.co/B98ycXJ0f0

[Chandra Villanueva 🦏 @ChandraKus]

@KendallGPace Recapture is not the problem. The issue is the extremely low ceiling placed on districts by the state. If a recapture district is struggling financially all districts are. The solution for all districts is to increase base funding and fund every student enrolled.

[Chandra Villanueva 🦏 @ChandraKus]

@edwonkkimmy @marylynnpruneda Also districts could not vote to lower their tier 1 rate. The districts taxing below $1 and prorated were grandfathered in because they were taxing below $1.50 when rates were compressed by $0.50 in 2006ish.

[Chandra Villanueva 🦏 @ChandraKus]

@edwonkkimmy @KendallGPace Districts never had latitude on tier 1, only tier 2. The bigger issue is that compression dismantled the equal revenue for equal taxation principle in tier 1.

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

The Lone Star State takes pride in doing things bigger and better, but this year's KIDS COUNT data book by @AECFNews reveals a harsher truth...

📉Texas children are NOT set up for success.

Read more by ETX's very own @CodaRGarza in the @statesman 👇

https://t.co/AR2JulrVGM

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

🚨Our team is growing! We're looking for passionate people ready to help build a Texas where everyone can thrive.

Current openings:
📣 Deputy Director of Communications
📊 Finance & Contract Specialist
📚 Higher Ed & Budget Policy Fellow

Learn more 👉 https://t.co/yeVLkWprUD

[Chandra Villanueva 🦏 @ChandraKus]

#txlege

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

Property tax cuts may sound appealing, but they come with a tradeoff: TX has already committed $51B to school property tax cuts since 2019.💰

Proposals for MORE raise questions about how we'll continue funding public schools & services Texans rely on👉 https://t.co/Tnbgf3qUor

[Every Texan @EveryTxn]

Property tax cuts may sound appealing, but they come with a tradeoff: TX has already committed $51B to school property tax cuts since 2019.💰

Proposals for MORE raise questions about how we'll continue funding public schools & services Texans rely on👉 https://t.co/Tnbgf3qUor

[Chandra Villanueva 🦏 @ChandraKus]

We're hiring at @EveryTxn! Apply today to become our next Senior Director of Development. https://t.co/aH1shIB9Tx

[TASB Governmental Relations @TASB_GR]

NEW RESOURCE:

A customizable letter template for communicating with lawmakers about rising costs and the Allotment for Basic Costs (ABC).

Available now:

🔗 https://t.co/ad74HaNop9

[John Collins @Logically_JC]

This one hits hard.

[Chandra Villanueva 🦏 @ChandraKus]

Lots of concern in the House Pub Ed Cmt about how complicated school finance is. However #txlege made it that way. Learn more about how complicated the changes in HB 2 are and how the state is shortchanging our schools in my lasted report: https://t.co/yXba1BnQJE @EveryTxn

[jrp @jrphtx]

"Texas is shortchanging public education. By failing to keep funding aligned with costs and prioritizing tax cuts over long-term investment, policymakers are creating a system that is increasingly inequitable, overly complex, and inadequate to meet need." https://t.co/IbBqLPan12

[jrp @jrphtx]

I hope @TexasObserver called @ChandraKus to ask about her bill to make Rattler's the Official State Snake.