BY THOMAS LEFFLER
By the numbers
JISD
The board pivoted from its initial consensus of a maximum $1.1196 per $100 valuation voter-ap- proved tax rate, deciding on a proposed rate of $1.0796 per $100 valuation Aug. 18. “We must assure our community that we will be responsible stewards of the funding they are entrusting to us. This is a big ask, and we must rec- ognize the financial responsibility we are placing on our community members,” Poteet said.
JISD potential VATRE impact
JISD’s impetus for calling a VATRE lies in its current FY 2025-26 general fund budget shortfall of $37.95 million , the result after trustees trimmed the number over the summer. Cost-saving items making the biggest impact were increasing teacher-to-student ratios by two students district-wide, a savings of $2.65 million , and closing 25 non-teaching position vacancies to save $1.02 million . On May 21, the board voted to keep Judson Middle School, Candlewood Elementary School and Franz Leadership Academy open after closing the three campuses was suggested as a cost reduction item. The board also rejected proposals to close Judson Early College Academy and pause stipends. The district’s FY 2025-26 budget was approved June 26. Trustee José Macias Jr. said his objective has been to minimize major cuts until the VATRE passes or fails, since that will tell the district how much more action it will need to take. “We have saved some money, but I was extremely conservative about the cuts because we’re a school district. Anything and everything that we do in a school district touches a student either directly or indirectly,” Macias said. Amanda Poteet, board vice president, said the full impact of the cuts is still under review since several items, such as the elimination of the district’s powerlifting program, were later brought back, as previously reported by Community Impact .
FY 2025-26
Revenue increase
Projected budget shortfall without VATRE $21M Projected budget shortfall with VATRE $16.9M
$37.9M
SOURCE: JUDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Zooming out
Surrounding district tax rates SCUCISD and JISD are two of three surrounding districts calling a VATRE.
281
87
COMAL ISD
VATRE in Nov. 2025 No VATRE in Nov. 2025
BOERNE ISD
NEW BRAUNFELS ISD
Boerne ISD • 2025-26 tax rate: $1.0109* • 2025-26 tax rate without VATRE: $0.9909 SCUCISD • 2025-26 tax rate: $1.1969* • 2025-26 tax rate without VATRE: $1.1369 JISD • 2025-26 tax rate: $1.0796* • 2025-26 tax rate without VATRE: $0.9996
10
35
NORTHSIDE ISD
NORTHEAST ISD
SCUCISD
10
ALAMO HEIGHTS ISD
1604
SAN ANTONIO ISD
JUDSON ISD
410
87
90
35
37
N
*NOTE: PROPOSED TAX RATES.
SOURCE: NORTHSIDE ISD, NORTHEAST ISD, BOERNE ISD, COMAL ISD, NEW BRAUNFELS ISD, SAN ANTONIO ISD, ALAMO HEIGHTS ISD, SCUCISD, JISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Looking ahead
Voters in the JISD boundary will decide on the VATRE item, which, if approved, would trim its budget shortfall for FY 2025-26. The final day to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election is Oct. 6, and early voting runs from Oct. 20-31. JISD homeowners who want to see their estimated tax payment if the VATRE were approved can visit www.judsonisd.org/page/vatre.
Judson ISD
VATRE denied Judson ISD
VATRE approved
• Proposed tax rate: $1.0796 (per $100 valuation) • Decrease in monthly average tax bill compared to prior year: $30.36 • Revenue raised by the district: $21 million
• District tax rate: $0.9996 (per $100 valuation) • Decrease in monthly average tax bill compared to prior year: $33.32 • Budget shortfall for FY 2025-26: $37.95 million
SOURCE: JUDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
17
NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION
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