Texas Scorecard By Brandon Waltens April 8, 2026
A new report reveals how firms that help fund school bond campaigns are later awarded millions in taxpayer-funded contracts tied to those same projects.A network of consultants, contractors, and taxpayer-funded entities is driving Texas’ multibillion-dollar school bond system while reaping massive financial returns, according to a new report.
The analysis from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, titled “Hijacked: How the Bond Process is Being Used Against Taxpayers,” argues that the state’s school bond process has been overtaken by what it describes as a “cartel”-like system of firms and organizations with a vested interest in ensuring bonds pass—and continue growing.
School bonds, which are repaid through local property taxes, now account for more than $236 billion in debt across Texas. In May 2023 alone, voters approved 79 percent of 245 bond propositions, adding $22.9 billion in new costs.
While school districts are prohibited from using taxpayer funds to advocate for bond elections, the report outlines how political action committees—funded by consultants, construction firms, and other vendors—step in to promote the measures.
In multiple cases, the report identifies companies that contributed relatively small amounts to bond-supporting PACs and later received millions in contracts tied to those same bond projects.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/school-bond-debt-tops-236-billion-in-texas/
