In the latest episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie dismantles one of the state's most persistent policy myths: that recapture, often nicknamed Robin Hood, redistributes wealth from property-rich to property-poor school districts. Missy Bender, Executive Director of the Texas School Coalition, explains that the nearly $3 billion Texas schools sent back to the state in 2025 through recapture actually ends up as state savings, not in the hands of poorer districts.
"So what does recapture do? It generates state savings," Bender tells McKenzie. "That's why I don't call it Robin Hood anymore. It's not the property wealthy helping the property poor, like many think, but it's only helping the state." With about 20% of all Texas districts now paying recapture, including both urban and rural districts, the episode arrives as legislators head into election season.
The discussion breaks down the mechanics of the post-House Bill 3 formula. Bender explains how property valuation divided by average daily attendance triggers the recapture threshold, and why declining enrollment plus rising valuations create a "double whammy" for districts like Plano ISD. The 2025 top payers include Austin ISD at $770 million and West Texas oil district Pecos-Barstow-Toyah at $198 million.
Bender, a former Plano school board member turned statewide advocate, is blunt about the misconception baked into the program's nickname. She notes that some boards have considered withholding payment as a form of protest, but warns, "you can actually go to jail for doing that." The deeper policy conversation traces the money's path into the Foundation School Program (FSP) and out again as reduced state contributions, funds Bender says can then be redirected to "water, transportation, it could be vouchers, it could be anything."
She cites the funding adequacy study led by Dr. Lori Taylor at Texas A&M, notes that the Legislature went six years without increasing the basic allotment despite inflation, and argues that 96% attendance, once religious and medical absences are counted, should be treated as the practical ceiling. She also flags legislation she is working on to stop penalizing districts for excused partial-day absences.
The episode, recorded in Plano, is available now wherever podcasts are heard. New episodes of The Building Texas Show release every week across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
