Education
BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & SIERRA MARTIN
Lower 202425 tax rate proposed in Bastrop ISD The proposed 2024-25 tax rate for Bastrop ISD is $0.002 lower than last year, despite property values growing more than 10%. What’s happening BISD Chief Financial Ocer Dina D. Edgar presented the drafted tax rate to the board of trustees during a meeting Aug. 20. “Upon adoption of the 2024 tax rate, we will have lowered the [maintenance and operations] tax rate by $0.37 since 2018, all while maintaining a debt service tax rate of $0.40 and passing and issuing bonds in 2021 and 2023,” Edgar said. Breaking it down The proposed tax rate is $1.0679—down from $1.0702 in 2023-24. The breakdown includes: • $0.6669 for maintenance and operations
Bastrop ISD partners with Texas State Students with the Texas State University Teacher Fellows Program will now be able to take part in a master’s program while teaching at Bastrop ISD campuses. The details The BISD board of trustees approved the memorandum of understanding with Texas State at an Aug. 20 regular meeting. Texas State students who have completed clinical or student teaching will be able to receive a Master’s of Education degree in 15 months through the program. Diana Greene, BISD director of human resources, said she is hoping the program will help bring new teachers to the district. “I think if we can get them in the door, then we can absolutely keep them [in the district],” Greene said.
Total property values in Bastrop ISD
$8B $10B
$6B $4B $2B $0
+112.5%
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
SOURCE: BASTROP ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
• $0.4010 for interest and sinking This comes despite property values in the district climbing from $7.7 billion to $8.5 billion since 2023, and doubling over the past ve years. Next steps A public hearing for the proposed tax rate is set for the next regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts, 1401 Cedar St. in Bastrop.
17
BASTROP CEDAR CREEK EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook