EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Tomball ISD & Lone Star College System
HIGHLIGHTS TOMBALL ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora, who has served as TISD superintendent since 2017, was named 2023 Superintendent of the Year for the Region 4 Education Service Center, according to May 30 news releases from TISD and Region 4. According to Region 4, the Superintendent of the Year program has recognized “exceptional administrators who have demonstrated achievement and excellence in public school administration” since it was established in 1984; the program is sponsored by the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards. Salazar-Zamora was chosen from Region 4’s service area, which includes eight counties and 48 school districts. As the Region 4 nominee, Salazar- Zamora will be interviewed Aug. 25-26 where five state finalists will be selected before the Superintendent of the Year is announced Sept. 29 at the TASA/ TASB Convention, according to Region 4. Salazar-Zamora previously served three years as the district’s chief academic officer. LONE STAR COLLEGE The board of trustees began discussing the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget June 1 with a proposal to lower the property tax rate from $0.1078 to $0.1076 per $100 valuation. A budget and tax rate will not be adopted until August and September. Tomball ISD board of trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15 at 310 S. Cherry St., Tomball. 281-357-3100. www.tomballisd.net Magnolia ISD board of trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. July 17 at 31141 Nichols Sawmill Road, Magnolia. 281-356-3571. www.magnoliaisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER
Tomball ISD ups salaries 4%
values for the 2023-24 year, Super- intendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said during the board’s June 12 workshop meeting. Zooming out: The raises come as the board also adopted its fiscal year 2023-24 budget June 13, which projects $203 million in revenues and $208 million in expenses, resulting in a $5 million shortfall. What else?: Outgoing Chief Financial Officer Jim Ross said all existing teachers should see a pay raise of at least $3,500. The new starting salary for a first-year teacher will be
PAY RAISES
Tomball ISD staff will see pay increases this year. pay increase on the midpoint value
+4%
BY LIZZY SPANGLER
Starting teacher salary raised from $57,500 to $60,500 SOURCE: TOMBALL ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
TOMBALL ISD Staff in Tomball ISD will receive pay raises following the school board’s approval of a 4% pay increase at its June 13 regular meeting. The big picture: The board approved a 4% increase of the midpoint value in the district pay schedules and is also adjusting the midpoint
$60,500, Salazar-Zamora said.
What they’re saying: “This is a 3% increase in the scales plus 4%,” Ross said. “It’s the biggest raise we’ve ever given.”
Lone Star College System increases homestead exemption by 7%
HOW HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS WORK
A homestead exemption removes part of the value on a homeowner’s property from taxation and lowers the homeowner’s taxes. The following example shows how property taxes owed are calculated based on a home appraised at $300,000 with a homestead exemption of 8%.
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
LONE STAR COLLEGE The Lone Star College System board of trustees voted June 1 to approve a 7% increase in the homestead exemption. According to a news release June 1, the move will result in homeowners paying less in taxes in the 2023 tax year. Two-minute impact: According to the news release, the new homestead exemption will be $5,000, or 8% of the assessed value of a home, whichever is greater. Home- stead exemptions remove part of a home’s value from taxation, lowering the taxes owed. • The previous LSC tax exemption rate for an eligible homeowner was $5,000 or 1% of market value. • An average tax exemption in 2022 was $5,000 on a home valued at $300,000. • Under the new LSC homestead exemption, that home- owner would see a tax exemption of $24,000 for a $300,000 home. • Trustees also voted to continue an additional exemption of $75,000 for those on disability or over age 65.
Appraised value:
8% homestead exemption:
Taxable value:
-
=
$300,000
$24,000
$276,000
=
$276,000
100
$2,760
Property taxes owed
=
$2,760
Tax rate
X
SOURCE: LONE STAR COLLEGE SYSTEM/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Quote of note: “Lone Star College is committed to being good stewards to the community it serves,” LSC board Sec- retary Mike Sullivan said. “Lone Star College continues to remain financially sound and will be able to continue to pay down its debt, saving even more money for the tax payers.”
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TOMBALL - MAGNOLIA EDITION • JUNE 2023
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