Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken aim at several school districts across the state, accusing them of illegally using taxpayer dollars to promote tax-increasing ballot measures — a move he calls a clear violation of state election law.
The Attorney General’s office revealed it sent warning letters to four independent school districts — Garland, Judson, Liberty Hill, and Northwest — after investigating claims they had crossed the line from education into electioneering. At issue: promotional materials encouraging voters to support Proposition A, a measure designed to maintain operational funding and potentially increase district revenue.
“School districts should focus on teaching children reading, writing, and arithmetic instead of unlawfully using taxpayer funds to meddle in elections that will raise taxes even higher,” Paxton stated in comments accompanying the announcement.
Legal Lines Crossed
Texas law doesn’t leave much wiggle room on this issue. School boards are explicitly prohibited from using public funds or resources to campaign for or against any candidate, measure, or political party — including ballot propositions that would increase taxes.
The districts apparently got the message. After receiving the warning letters, they quickly removed the materials in question and agreed to comply with state law going forward, according to the AG’s office.
What exactly were these districts doing? While specific examples weren’t detailed, the promotional materials apparently crossed from providing neutral information into advocacy territory — a distinction that has become increasingly contentious in school politics across Texas.
Paxton didn’t mince words about his view of the situation. “ISDs are educational entities, not lobbying firms,” he declared. “Illegal electioneering must come to an end, and any school district engaging in such conduct can expect to hear from my office.”
Broader Tensions
This crackdown comes amid heightened scrutiny of school district spending and political activities nationwide. School officials often argue they’re merely informing communities about critical funding needs, while critics contend these efforts frequently cross into taxpayer-funded campaigning.
The targeted districts represent diverse communities across Texas, suggesting this may be part of a wider pattern the Attorney General’s office is investigating. For many districts, ballot propositions like the one at issue represent critical funding mechanisms in a state where school finance remains a perpetually thorny issue.
Still, Paxton’s message appears clear: when it comes to election advocacy, schools need to stay in their lane — even when their budgets may depend on the outcome.
