Trustees in Northwest Independent School District have called for a VATRE—Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election—in order to help dig them out of a budget deficit.
The district claims that the increase is needed to provide teachers and staff with raises, protect class size ratios, and prioritize retaining and adding student programs.
Northwest ISD adopted a $15.8 million budget deficit for the 2024-2025 school year.
If voters were to approve the new property tax rate, the VATRE would reportedly “generate nearly $16 million for the 2024-2025 school year and additional funding each year as the district continues to experience tremendous enrollment growth.”
Northwest ISD residents would see a maintenance and operations tax rate increase of 3 cents per $100 of property value. The rate would go from $0.6669 to $0.6969.
“This would represent an average $120 yearly increase on a home that is valued at $500,000,” reads the website.
As of Fiscal Year 2023, Northwest ISD currently owes more than $1.8 billion in debt, which taxpayers are expected to repay.
While some in the district agreed with raising the tax rate, others expressed their disapproval.
“Definitely NOT voting on a tax increase. Our taxes are already too high,” said resident Jenni Doane Williams.
“Hmm, no increase. An increase for this will cause a domino impact. It’s time to budget better…see what is not a Must….there are plenty of small things that do not make sense and add up to huge expenses. This ISD does a poor job at major expenses,” said another resident, Ben Bowman. “It’s time to sit down, the ISD has to do homework and find the waste of funds.”
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility President Andrew McVeigh told Texas Scorecard that government schools should be looking to cut spending rather than increase it.
“At a time when the economy, inflation, and the rapid increase in the cost of living are crushing Texas families, local governments and schools should be looking for ways to cut spending and save, not increasing spending,” said McVeigh. “Schools and governments should tighten their belts, not look for new opportunities to squeeze more out of taxpayer’s wallets. While the VATRE will provide the people with the final say in this instance at the ballot box, taxpayers should keep in mind that a higher tax rate, coupled with rising appraisals, will cost them even more.”
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