Records show a taxpayer-funded lobbying organization is paying over a dozen of its employees salaries that are more than the governor.
The Texas Association of School Boards is a lobbying organization that is funded almost exclusively by Texas taxpayer dollars through school district dues.
According to TASB’s most recent 990 form, at least 16 of its employees make more than the governor of Texas, who earns just over $153,000 each year.
TASB paid a combined total of $927,644 to just two of its employees during fiscal year 2023.
Executive Director Dan Troxell was paid $412,101 in direct compensation by TASB. Another $64,154 is listed as “other compensation from the organization and related organizations.”
Similarly, TASB paid First Public Managing Director William Mastrodicasa $351,224 in direct reportable income. He was also paid an additional $100,165.
K-12 Education advocate Dr. Mary Bone highlighted the high salaries of TASB employees in a post on X.
𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗮𝘀? 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗧𝗔𝗦𝗕. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝙗𝙮 𝗧𝗔𝗫 𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀… pic.twitter.com/ajGLBJbBb6
— Dr. Mary Bone (@drbone4tx) February 28, 2025
A TASB representative told Texas Scorecard that all of its employee salaries are informed by continual market analyses conducted by New York-based consulting firm Mercer.
“This review helps ensure that salaries at TASB are within market, based on comparisons with other organizations of similar size, budget and revenue,” they said.
The spokesperson went on to say that their top salaries “were found to be at or below the market median, according to the latest compensation review.”
“Additionally, it should be noted that as a nonprofit organization, TASB’s entire mission is dedicated to minimizing the burden of government for its members,” the spokesperson continued. “Each year member districts save taxpayer money through our high-value, high-quality services and solutions.”
TASB’s also asserts that Texas school districts are saving tens of millions of dollars through the organization’s services.
James Quintero, a policy director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, told Texas Scorecard that “Quasi-governmental groups, like TASB, siphon untold sums away from Texas public education for reasons unknown.”
“It’s truly a mystery how they spend our tax dollars and why,” said Quintero.
He also said that the public currently does not have much insight into the inner workings of TASB. Yet, from what is publicly available, Quintero described it as “alarming.”
“It’s time to start asking why,” he said. “Why is TASB allowed to divert so much money away from the classroom? Why are taxpayers shouldering an extra burden for TASB? Why is the salary of any government or government-adjacent employee so high?”
He argued that Texas is in dire need of governmental changes to increase transparency into taxpayer-funded organizations.
State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) has filed a measure to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying, which is a priority of the Republican Party of Texas.
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