$12M boost From the cover
The breakdown
The current situation
district will attempt to increase its revenue. A tax rate increase for the district failed to pass last year.
The district-proposed tax rate would generate at least $12 million for the district if approved by voters. This is the second consecutive year the
If approved, only one of the district’s two tax rates would increase, while the other would remain flat. The total tax rate would be a decrease from the last fiscal year. In that situation, the district would have a maintenance and operations, or M&O, tax rate of $0.6631 per $100 valuation for the 2025-26 school year. This rate is higher than what the district approved before the school year began, but is less than the tax rate for the previous year.
Northwest ISD 2024-25 VATRE results 44.16% of voters within NISD said yes to the 2024-25 VATRE. However 55.84% said no.
Roughly $2M of the funds for class sizes and student programs would help maintain current student programs and restore fine arts cuts, according to the district. Proposed voter-approval tax rate
The generated $12 million from the proposed rate would directly fund classroom needs.
Voted yes
Voted no
Teacher compensation Class sizes and student programs
Property tax rates are made up of two different rates. The M&O rate generates revenue for day-to-day needs, while the interest and sinking, or I&S, rate generates revenue for buildings, renovations and land. The I&S rate would remain the same at $0.421 per $100 valuation, which was approved for the 2025-26 school year. Districts are required to call a voter- approval tax rate election when a proposed rate is above the state-approved maximum compressed tax rate. “[The VATRE is] the only avenue that school districts have to increase their revenue,” NISD Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Pastusek said. District officials said new legislation from the 89th Texas legislative session could also contribute to property tax reductions, which would affect how much money the district will receive in local funding. Senate Bill 4 would raise the statewide homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, if approved by voters in November, according to previous reporting.
$4M
31,530
39,865
$8M
SOURCES: NORTHWEST ISD; WISE, TARRANT AND DENTON COUNTY ELECTION OFFICES/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
The backstory
The district projected a $16 million budget shortfall for the 2025-26 school year in January 2025. In order to close the budget gap, the district eliminated more than 100 teaching positions and maximized staffing ratios in February. The maximized staffing ratios led to classroom sizes increasing. Grades 2-4 went from a 1:22 teacher-to-student ratio to a 1:24 ratio, while middle and high schools went from 1:165 to 1:180. This means NISD middle schools have about 25.7 students per class period while high schools have about 30. The TEA recommends classrooms for grade levels 2-4 not exceed a 1:22 ratio, while secondary schools do not have a classroom size limit. Pastusek said some programs, like reading recovery, were also eliminated due to low enrollment.
NISD’s board previously called a VATRE August 2024 to generate more local revenue. The district will receive $6,215 per student from the state after the 89th Texas legislative session. Basic allotment for students had not changed since 2019 before this year. Multiple districts in the region have pursued VATREs for additional funds, according to Educa- tion Service Center Region 11, the state-appointed service center for NISD and other nearby districts. “Each district’s decision is based on local needs, priorities and financial circumstances,” said Hailee Fojtasek, ESC Region 11 senior director of communications. Fojtasek said inflation and growing enrollment can also increase the cost for staffing and services. NISD officials said record turnout for the presi- dential election and misunderstandings regarding the item may have contributed to the results of last year’s VATRE.
Maintenance & operations Interest & sinking Tax rate breakdown
Total: $1.0879 Total: $1.0841 $0.421
2024-25 tax rate:
$0.6669
Proposed 2025-26 rate:
$0.421
$0.6631
Average homeowner bill $4,351.60 in 2024-25 $3,902.76 if VATRE passes this year $3,794.76 if VATRE does not pass this year
SOURCE: NORTHWEST ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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