South Texas School Districts Become Robinhood Targets

It's a nice problem to have. Tax appraised values are rising by hundreds of millions of dollars across South Texas. Our schools will be getting better, but the state's "Robinhood" provision means they'll also be sending money elsewhere.

Robstown ISD saw an almost 20 percent increase in values from 2011, from $375.4 million to about $450 million, and London ISD's preliminary estimate came in 23 percent above 2011, rising from about $233 million to about $287 million.

Those numbers pale in comparison to districts in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale. Karnes City ISD has seen valuations increase nearly sixfold in the past two years.