Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Texans are paying more in property taxes, but where is the promised tax relief? In this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with Judge Shepard to expose how the Texas school bond process has been hijacked by an education cartel that profits from billions in taxpayer-funded debt. Based on Judge Shepard's groundbreaking research paper this conversation uncovers the network of architects, engineering firms, consultants, lobbyists, and political action committees driving massive school bond elections across Texas.
Learn how a handful of firms make small donations to school bond PACs, then receive millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts after bonds pass. The discussion also examines why property tax relief from the Texas Legislature often fails to reach homeowners, how school district debt has ballooned to $236 billion, and what reforms could restore transparency and accountability.
In this video:
How Texas school bond elections really work
The "education cartel" and its financial incentives
Why property taxes continue to rise despite legislative tax relief
How bond PACs influence local elections
The role of architects, engineering firms, consultants, and taxpayer-funded lobbyists
Why May bond elections have low voter turnout
Proposed reforms to protect Texas taxpayers
The controversy surrounding Barbers Hill ISD's Education Foundation
Recommendations to increase transparency and stop conflicts of interest
If you care about Texas property taxes, school finance, government transparency, education reform, taxpayer rights, or local government accountability, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.
đź‘Ť Like this video if you support greater transparency in government.
đź”” Subscribe for more interviews on Texas policy, education reform, and protecting taxpayers.
đź’¬ Share your thoughts in the comments: Should Texas reform the school bond process?
#Texas #PropertyTaxes #SchoolBonds #EducationReform #TexasPolitics #SchoolChoice #GovernmentTransparency #TaxpayerRights #EducationCartel #MandyDrogan #TexasPublicPolicyFoundation #TPPF #LocalGovernment #TexasSchools #SchoolFinance #TaxRelief #PublicPolicy #TexasLegislature #ParentEmpowerment #TexasNews
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
Texans are paying more in property taxes, but where is the promised tax relief? In this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with Judge Shepard to expose how the Texas school bond process has been hijacked by an education cartel that profits from billions in taxpayer-funded debt. Based on Judge Shepard's groundbreaking research paper this conversation uncovers the network of architects, engineering firms, consultants, lobbyists, and political action committees driving massive school bond elections across Texas.
Learn how a handful of firms make small donations to school bond PACs, then receive millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded contracts after bonds pass. The discussion also examines why property tax relief from the Texas Legislature often fails to reach homeowners, how school district debt has ballooned to $236 billion, and what reforms could restore transparency and accountability.
In this video:
How Texas school bond elections really work
The "education cartel" and its financial incentives
Why property taxes continue to rise despite legislative tax relief
How bond PACs influence local elections
The role of architects, engineering firms, consultants, and taxpayer-funded lobbyists
Why May bond elections have low voter turnout
Proposed reforms to protect Texas taxpayers
The controversy surrounding Barbers Hill ISD's Education Foundation
Recommendations to increase transparency and stop conflicts of interest
If you care about Texas property taxes, school finance, government transparency, education reform, taxpayer rights, or local government accountability, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.
đź‘Ť Like this video if you support greater transparency in government.
đź”” Subscribe for more interviews on Texas policy, education reform, and protecting taxpayers.
đź’¬ Share your thoughts in the comments: Should Texas reform the school bond process?
#Texas #PropertyTaxes #SchoolBonds #EducationReform #TexasPolitics #SchoolChoice #GovernmentTransparency #TaxpayerRights #EducationCartel #MandyDrogan #TexasPublicPolicyFoundation #TPPF #LocalGovernment #TexasSchools #SchoolFinance #TaxRelief #PublicPolicy #TexasLegislature #ParentEmpowerment #TexasNews
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.
Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.
The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.
Website: texaspolicy.com
X: twitter.com/tppf
Facebook: facebook.com/texaspolicy
Instagram: instagram.com/texaspolicy
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation
