Ector County Independent School District’s Board of Trustees delayed a vote on whether to hold a tax ratification election this year.
Trustees called a special meeting on Friday, June 15, to approve a proposed tax rate of $1.23 per $100 valuation for the 2018-2019 school year. Adopting that rate would trigger an election, as it exceeds the state’s maintenance and operations (M&O) tax cap of $1.04 per $100 valuation.
Given ECISD’s failed bond and tax ratification election last fall, the board reportedly delayed their decision in order to further engage the community and explain why the tax increase is needed.
The district’s current property tax rate is $1.15 per $100 valuation, with $1.04 for M&O (i.e., day-to-day operations) and $.11 for interest and sinking (i.e., debt service). That equates to an annual ECISD property tax bill of $1,725 for a home valued at $150,000.
If the new, proposed rate is approved by the board and ratified by voters this fall, the same home’s annual property tax bill will increase to $1,845.
The board is scheduled to meet again on June 26 at 6:00 p.m. If they are to hold a tax ratification election this year, the deadline to adopt the proposed tax rate is August 20.
