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<\/p>\nEL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe number that Governor Abbott is citing is the result of the rapid student decline,\u201d Perez said. \u201cSo there\u2019s going to be more money spent per student. It\u2019s not that the, you know, the district is significantly increasing spending.\u201d<\/p>\n
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State Rep. Vince Perez. Oct. 12, 2026. Credit: KFOX14\/CBS4<\/p>\n
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 \u201cRepublican areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s going to be accountability and if the governor really cares about holding school districts accountable, well, then why aren\u2019t all school districts in Texas accountable?\u201d Perez told KFOX14\/CBS4 during a face-to-face interview. \u201cWhy is he singling out El Paso? And that\u2019s really where I have problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perez said he reviewed the same numbers and does not see why EPISD should be investigated over other districts he described as being in \u201cworse financial situations\u201d or that \u201chave higher financial administrative costs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was probably more of a political tactic or they probably just wanted a headline,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
Perez also raised concerns that the investigation is being conducted by the Texas comptroller\u2019s office rather than the Texas Education Agency. He noted that Comptroller Don Huffines was appointed by Abbott.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re really starting to use this office as a means to attack, you know, areas where they have disagreements with,\u201d Perez said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m willing to also bet that after the election, much of this is going to probably go away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perez said he sent a letter to Huffines challenging the investigation, which has been attached below:<\/p>\n
c9008fc8-89c3-4eb1-a0fc-f68d7cc87898PDF previewPreview PDF<\/p>\n
View PDF<\/a><\/p>\n The results of the investigation are set to be completed on Dec. 31, ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature.<\/p>\n RELATED: Texas comptroller selects El Paso ISD for performance review<\/a><\/p>\n