With bulk of Katrina evacuees, Texans begin to feel burden

The hospital district is continuing to work with the Texas congressional delegation, pleading its case and reminding them of the added burden, says Mr. Hillier. "Everyone was proud of us for what we did. But the federal government said it was going to help get this paid for, and it's still not paid for."

One bright spot occurred last week when US Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced that Texas would receive an additional $428.7 million in emergency funding to help meet the continuing housing needs of hurricane victims.

Present at the Houston announcement, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) of Texas said one of the most difficult challenges she's faced has been convincing her congressional colleagues and the Bush administration that a hurricane that didn't actually hit Texas has had profound financial implications for the state.

"We need the money to follow the people, not just the infrastructure," she said.

The federal government did just that when it dispersed some $890 million to cover Katrina-related educational costs last year. But this year, there will be no additional funding – and that is creating problems for many school districts.

Texas, which received $225 million of that federal money, saw an increase of 46,500 Katrina students at its height last year. About 35,000 of those were still here by the end of the school year, and 31,000 will return this year.

The majority of those that remain are expected to be permanent, says Debbie Graves Ratcliffe at the Texas Education Agency in Austin. "The reality is there are still not a lot of housing or jobs in New Orleans, so they are staying here."

Each year, the state of Texas adds about 80,000 new students. But this year – with the permanent Katrina students – it added more than 110,000.

"That's a lot to absorb, especially when they tended to hit a small portion of the state," says Ms. Ratcliffe.

Houston, for instance, took in the bulk. Area school districts have, for the most part, been able to handle the increased numbers, but evacuee children needed extra attention last year because of the emotional trauma and added burden of having to pass the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test.

That meant more cost to the districts, and while most of last year's federal allocations have been paid out, administrators are uncertain about the financial needs this year.

In addition, crime associated with Katrina evacuees is adding to the taxpayer burden. Arrests among people in this group have already cost the county's criminal-justice system more than $18 million.

"Most of those who remain have become great neighbors, are assimilating well, getting jobs, and doing fine. But even if only 5 percent aren't, we have a problem," says Robert Eckels, Harris County chief executive, pointing to the more than 40 murders involving Katrina evacuees since last year.

In June, Governor Perry sent Houston $19.5 million to help pay for additional police officers and overtime to patrol areas with large numbers of evacuees. But that is just a stopgap measure while the state prepares to ask for increased help from Washington.

"What the federal government doesn't seem to understand is that this isn't just a six-month or one-year crisis," says Judge Eckels. "It's a marathon."

• Material from the Associated Press was used in this article.

Page: 1 | 2