Support for our public schools is essential, and we are usually quick to give it when it comes to ensuring students in every district are learning in top-notch facilities.
We extend that support to the Garland ISD as it asks voters to raise the district’s property tax rate by some 12 cents in a voter-approved tax rate election.
This support comes with concern that the district is seeking such a large increase at a time when property owners are plainly suffering from their tax bills. Like many voters, we are left asking whether the district has done enough to cover a $60 million deficit.
It’s true that Garland’s rate of about 66 cents per $100 in value for maintenance and operations has been low relative to some peer districts and has come down substantially in recent years. It was 97 cents as recently as 2019-20. Still, we expect voters to be split on such a large one-time rate increase given how valuable homes have become. They sent that message in 2020 when they rejected a similar VATRE.
Opinion
We urge voters to weigh their cost concerns in balance with what Garland ISD has accomplished. The district stands out as one of the most innovative in the region for its commitment to in-district school choice, its excellent suite of programs for students at every income level, its pay-for-performance teacher incentive plan and its results educating students in poverty.
Garland ISD embraced change and innovation that gave parents and students more options at a time when many peer districts were operating on a take-it-or-leave-it neighborhood school model. A majority of its teachers are judged on merit-based performance metrics. The district overall has a B rating and is improving, according to the Texas Education Agency’s accountability ratings. It also has 23 A-rated campuses. When other districts were lagging in math after the pandemic, Garland ISD became an outlier in the region for its consistent gains, particularly in algebra.
Voter approval will help Garland ISD raise $41 million in new revenue with another $15 million in matching funds from the state to raise about $56 million and narrow the financial gap it faces.
A major part of this revenue — about $33 million — will go to teacher and staff salaries. As the district enhances its teacher incentive pay program, it will have the opportunity to capture more state dollars for teacher pay. But that is a complex process that will take some time.
GISD also wants to preserve its career and technical education programs as well as special education initiatives. It is worth noting that 15% of their high school graduates are earning associate degrees. Part of this funding will also go to safety and security.
Voters have a tough call here. We did too when we considered this question. But we think the right decision is to support Garland ISD to ensure it continues to succeed against tough odds.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here.
If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com