ELECTION Pearland ISD, Friendswood ISD o cials consider VATREs
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
“THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE A DEFICIT BUDGET RIGHT NOW, AND THE DEFICIT IS RELATED TO THE LACK OF STATE FUNDING.” THAD ROHER, FRIENDSWOOD ISD SUPERINTENDENT
BY JAMES T. NORMAN
The district’s rate for scal year 2022-23 was $1.3027, according to district documents. As a result, the new rate will likely be lower than last year. However, estimates on how that could a ect average resident’s tax bill were not available by press time, o cials said. FISD, meanwhile, is facing an expected $2.46 million shortfall, according to district documents. O cials are looking at a VATRE to help close some of that gap, district Chief Financial O cer Amber Petree said on July 24. The outcome of these numbers for both districts could vary given ongoing state legislation being considered. Both districts have also passed teacher raises and tied a further increase to the passing of a VATRE. An uphill battle Throughout the past couple months, o cials with both districts have said they expect resistance from the public in getting a VATRE passed. For PISD, which saw its last VATRE passed in 2021, o cials in recent months have noted the potential pushback that could come from the community. Some elected o cials have been skeptical too. PISD Trustee Crystal Carbone said at the district’s June 23 meeting she was “very much strug- gling” with asking the community for more money. However, she doesn’t think she should keep others from voting on it. At FISD, Roher told Community
A litany of school districts across the state—including Pearland ISD and Friendswood ISD—are facing shortfalls and looking for ways to make ends meet this year. As a result, both are kicking around a potential voter-approval tax rate election, also called a VATRE. A growing need There are a few factors causing shortfalls for both PISD and FISD. Some of those, according to o cials, include declining enrollment, in a- tion and lack of state funding. “The bottom line is we have a de cit budget right now, and the de cit is related to the lack of state funding,” FISD Superintendent Thad Roher told Community Impact. Looking at the numbers PISD is looking at a $12.7 million shortfall, and o cials are pitching a VATRE that could add about $11.1 million to the district’s budget. For the tax rate, PISD without the VATRE is looking at a rate of $1.0473 per $100 valuation of a resident’s home. However, o cials will seek a rate of $1.1373—a total increase of $0.09—which would require voter approval since it would be above the state-allowed max. This decision would come at a board meeting in August. If a supermajority of the district’s board approves a tax rate higher than the threshold given by the state, a VATRE election in Novem- ber is automatically triggered.
Friendswood ISD is considering a tax rate election, Superintendent Thad Roher said.
JAMES T. NORMAN COMMUNITY IMPACT
TAX RATES OVER TIME
Tax rates for both Pearland ISD and Friendswood ISD have declined over the past 10 scal years. Both districts going into the next year expect that trend to continue.
Tax rate per $100 valuation
Pearland ISD Friendswood ISD Projected
$1.50 $1.40 $1.30 $1.20 $1.10 $0
$1.4156
$1.4156
$1.3185
$1.367
$1.367
$1.1518
$1.2594
$1.1373
NOTE: FY 2023 24 TAX RATES COULD VARY DUE TO RECENT COMPRESSION BY THE STATE AND FINAL APPROVAL FROM RESPECTIVE SCHOOL BOARDS. BREAKING EVEN Both districts are looking at voter-approval tax rate elections in an e ort to clean up shortfalls in their budgets. Friendswood ISD Without VATRE Pearland ISD Without VATRE
$2.46M shortfall
$12.7M shortfall
With VATRE Revenue: $251.46M Revenue: $263.56M
With VATRE Revenue: $57.7M Revenue: $58.7M
$1.46M shortfall
$0.6M shortfall
SOURCES: FRIENDSWOOD ISD, PEARLAND ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Impact he “expects resistance” to a VATRE but also believes the commu- nity supports the district. “I think our community fully sup- ports sta [and] education and wants
the best for children and grandchil- dren,” Roher said. Both districts will be required to call a VATRE by Aug. 21 to have it on November’s ballot.
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PEARLAND FRIENDSWOOD EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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