{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin","title":"How the Bond Process is Being Used Against Taxpayers","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2042,"description":"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.\nLearn 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.\nIn this video:\nHow Texas school bond elections really work\nThe \"education cartel\" and its financial incentives\nWhy property taxes continue to rise despite legislative tax relief\nHow bond PACs influence local elections\nThe role of architects, engineering firms, consultants, and taxpayer-funded lobbyists\nWhy May bond elections have low voter turnout\nProposed reforms to protect Texas taxpayers\nThe controversy surrounding Barbers Hill ISD's Education Foundation\nRecommendations to increase transparency and stop conflicts of interest\nIf 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.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/_ImoH02SqKSezOOeC82tf4FL0wBpSk9AYZWFfSkkkN4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80YWRk/NjUyMjI1MjY4NGNk/ZTlmMDczYzRiOGE2/OWEyYi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}