Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has announced the selection of four school districts for a comprehensive review focused on the expenditure of taxpayer funds. The districts chosen are Austin, Barbers Hill, El Paso, and Prosper, following a request from Governor Greg Abbott for evaluations of up to four districts.
The upcoming review aims to assess whether the spending practices of these districts align with state laws and prioritize resources for students, classrooms, and educators, rather than administrative growth or non-instructional bureaucracy.
For the 2025-26 school year, the student enrollment figures for the selected districts are as follows: Austin ISD has 69,074 students, Barbers Hill ISD has 8,088 students, El Paso ISD has 46,244 students, and Prosper ISD has 33,583 students.
Huffines emphasized the importance of this review in promoting transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. He noted, “This review is an important step to ensure transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds. I’ve informed Gov. Greg Abbott about the school districts we are examining. Our office is committed to providing a clear assessment that helps Texans understand how their education dollars are being used.”
However, details regarding the criteria for selecting these specific districts have not been disclosed by the comptroller’s office.
In August, Governor Abbott requested a formal examination of the financial practices of local independent school districts to ensure that taxpayer dollars are effectively supporting teachers and students. He urged the comptroller to investigate districts of varying sizes and geographic locations to ascertain that public funds are utilized for their intended purposes.
Abbott highlighted the significant investment of $104.9 billion in taxpayer funds allocated for K-12 education, stating, “As Texas makes historic investments in public education, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars directly reach students, classrooms, and teachers, rather than central-office growth, administrative bloat, consultants, and the web of noninstructional bureaucracy.”
The final report from this review is anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2026, allowing the 90th Texas Legislature the opportunity to consider any proposed reforms.
