As beleaguered residents of Texas’ capital grapple with yet another record-setting municipal budget and a so-called “climate bond” looming on the horizon, another local entity appears primed to “shake the money tree.”
According to CBS Austin, Austin Independent School District could call for a voter approval tax rate election to cover a projected 2025 budget deficit of $78 million. District trustees approved a budget of over $1 billion in June.
Austin ISD’s move comes as the district’s enrollment is in long-term decline. Over the past five years, the number of students served by Austin ISD has decreased by close to ten percent. This contraction occurred even though Austin has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the entire country for the past quarter century.
In recent years, the district has made national headlines as a center for far-left indoctrination. The district’s annual LGBT “pride” weeks are a recurring source of national ridicule. More recently, district schools have become a hotbed of anti-Israel agitation.
Notably, the district’s teacher’s union supports a potential tax increase, with union president Ken Zarafins telling local media “At the end of the day, we have to take care of our children.”
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees plans to decide on a potential tax increase in August. Four trustee seats are on the ballot this fall.
Austinites may contact Board of Trustees President Arati Singh at (512) 387-1782 or email arati.singh@austinisd.org.
