Legislators predict blowback from education cuts
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Because the bulk of state spending goes to education and health and human services, those areas are expected to take a huge hit in order to make up an expected budget shortfall.
At least one of those cuts has both sides encouraging constituents to speak up.
"If this bothers you, make noise," Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) said.
As the newly elected State Board of Education meets in Austin this week, part of the challenge ahead for them involves finding money to pay for new textbooks and materials that prepare high schoolers for end-of-course exams.
"It might mean we look for efficiencies, it might mean we look towards more online and digital learning, but either way, we need to make sure that material is in the hands of teachers and students," Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott said.
In the proposed budget, public schools would be cut short nearly $10 billion. That's money owed to districts under the current school finance formula. New legislation would have to be adopted to make up that money, which includes paying for new students coming into classrooms.
Democrats were quick to criticize that the base bill doesn't account for growth.
"You can talk about administrative efficiencies, but you're not going to replace 25 percent of state funding just by administrative cleanup. There are going to be changes in the way students are educated," Hochberg said.
Meanwhile, there's the battle over how future college students will be able to afford to go to school.
"What's much more difficult, in this initial plan, incoming students have many less opportunities for financial aid," Rep. Dan Branch (R-Dallas) said.
Rep. Branch, who has previously served as head of the Higher Education Committee, said Texas Grants, the state's main financial aid program, took a huge hit, almost 50 percent.
Four community colleges could also close if the bill stays as it is.
Branch pointed to federal programs for financial aid and enriched Pell Grants as a buffer.
"I hope this doesn't force Texans to leave, because I think our options will be better here," Branch said.
The Senate is expected to come out with its base budget next week.