There is waste everywhere, to be sure, but AISD is spending less per kid than most school districts in the state, and in line with other city school district. Suburban schools spend significantly more (often without paying for it themselves). This type of simple thinking makes folks in districts with giant football stadiums think they paid for it themselves because there was a bond election for it, while completely disregarding the millions in recapture dollars that were received to pay for everything else.
Austin residents paid $1.67 billion in taxes and $940 million in recapture (much of which went into the general fund to be passed out to cronies through contract work). It's robbery. I love that Spring Branch tried to put their foot down last year, even though they ultimately had to cave. I would love it if AISD school board told the state to fuck off and come and try to take our money. It would be symbolic, ultimately, but the know-nothing voters in this state need to be made more aware of what type of pure criminals they keep electing, who don't mind stealing from kids to line their own pockets. I suppose as long as it's those inner city kids many still won't care, but it's bound to wake some people up. Our school funding system has been hijacked by low rent criminals, and most Texans don't care. That's not the type of Texans I recall being brought up with.