Richards Announces Finance Plan; Special Session Looms

By Lonnie Harp

Gov. Ann W. Richards of Texas last week launched yet another attempt to devise a school-funding system acceptable to the state supreme court by unveiling a plan that would funnel commercial-property taxes into state coffers.

Aides said the Governor plans to call lawmakers into special session next month to draft another finance bill. The supreme court earlier this year nullified the legislature's second attempt at a law aimed at rectifying disparities in school funding.

In its ruling, the court allowed the law's tax provisions to stand through 1993, giving lawmakers ample time to try again. But Ms. Richards wants to avoid having later this year to collect a property tax that has...