School districts hit tax caps as they borrow for construction

October 17, 2014 | Updated: October 18, 2014 7:05pm

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Â Tony Bullard 2014, Freelance Photographer

Katy Independent School District Elementary School #37 is under construction in this January photograph. As Katy ISD grows by 3,000 students a year, its debt per student is nearly $19,000, according to the state comptroller's office.

By Leah Binkovitz

October 17, 2014 | Updated: October 18, 2014 7:05pm

When state lawmakers slashed education funding three years ago, many school districts had to lean even more on local taxpayers to pay for a growing list of construction needs. Legislators later restored much of the money, but didn't include funds to pay off new debt taken on to build schools.

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