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.