State Rep. calls governor’s El Paso ISD finance investigation politically motivated

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — State Rep. Vince Perez questions Gov. Greg Abbott’s investigation of the El Paso Independent School District finances, a move he’s calling politically motivated.

On Monday, Perez, who represents House District 77 in El Paso, said he is concerned EPISD is being singled out for political reasons. He said about 80 school districts in Texas spend more on administrative costs than EPISD but are not being investigated.

“The number that Governor Abbott is citing is the result of the rapid student decline,” Perez said. “So there’s going to be more money spent per student. It’s not that the, you know, the district is significantly increasing spending.”

Perez said he wrote to the governor and the comptroller to ask what criteria were used to select EPISD. He said he does not expect a response but suspects the decision is tied to the fact that more than half of the districts he referenced are in what he called “Republican areas.”

“If there’s going to be accountability and if the governor really cares about holding school districts accountable, well, then why aren’t all school districts in Texas accountable?” Perez told KFOX14/CBS4 during a face-to-face interview. “Why is he singling out El Paso? And that’s really where I have problems.”

Perez said he reviewed the same numbers and does not see why EPISD should be investigated over other districts he described as being in “worse financial situations” or that “have higher financial administrative costs.”

“This was probably more of a political tactic or they probably just wanted a headline,” Perez said.

Perez also raised concerns that the investigation is being conducted by the Texas comptroller’s office rather than the Texas Education Agency. He noted that Comptroller Don Huffines was appointed by Abbott.

“They’re really starting to use this office as a means to attack, you know, areas where they have disagreements with,” Perez said. “And I’m willing to also bet that after the election, much of this is going to probably go away.”

Perez said he sent a letter to Huffines challenging the investigation, which has been attached below:

The results of the investigation are set to be completed on Dec. 31, ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature.

RELATED: Texas comptroller selects El Paso ISD for performance review

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