Panhandle Times

Approximately 88% of Texans oppose taxpayer-funded lobbying and many are unaware of how they pay for it, according to a Texas Public Policy Foundation poll.

For example, according to Innovative Teachers of Texas’ Melissa Martin, school districts may pay dues to nonprofit associations, such as the National Education Association (NEA) and the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA).

“Independent school districts also contract with individual lobbyists and those who are part of lobbying firms which may focus on education,” Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) previously told the Tyler Reporter.

Although the Bovina Independent School District (ISD) doesn’t contract with individual lobbyists, Business Office Manager Darlene Miller said the district pays membership fees or dues to organizations like Texas Rural Education Association, Texas Association of Rural Schools, the Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators and the Texas Association of School Administrators.

“We do have an estimate of what percentage of the dues that we pay to associations for lobbying efforts,” Miller told the Panhandle Times. “We do that by how we code those in our expenditure reporting, which is required by the state, and in each one of those we have to, at the end of the year, say how those organizations to give us a letter saying how much of their monies are spent on lobbying efforts.”

As previously reported by East Houston News, taxpayer-funded lobbying is when a city, county or school district pays lobbying firms or associations for various political causes. A full list of all registered lobbyists is available on the Texas Ethics Commission website.

Overall, Miller reports the district budgeted $708.47 for membership to organizations involved in lobbying.

“They do a lot of other things for us besides lobbying,” Miller said in an interview. “They keep us informed on new laws, new rules, and procedure policies and best policies.”

Of the $200 in dues Bovina ISD paid to the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) for Superintendent Denise Anderson’s membership, Miller said 2.77% was spent on lobbying.

“That’s just for the superintendent,” she said. “The elementary principal and the middle school principal have other associations they belong to.”

Up to $41 million per year is spent by local government on Austin lobbyists, according to data from the office of Rep. Mayes Middleton (R–Wallisville) who inquired into cities, counties and school districts statewide to reveal their tax revenue spending on lobbying.

Regarding whether the district assists in determining lobbying objectives, Miller said it would be the superintendent who makes those decisions.

"She might discuss some things at different meetings she goes to, but I don't know," Miller said.

Middleton, along with Hall, filed bills last week that, if enacted, will ban cities, counties and school districts from hiring lobbyists with taxpayer revenue to advocate against laws that could potentially benefit homeowners statewide. The bills are identical, but Middleton filed HB 749 in the state House while Hall filed SB 234.