This year\u2019s proposal would generate at least $12 million. Officials said about $8 million would be used to reduce class sizes and restore cut positions with the remaining $4 million targeted for future pay increases<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t put it all back,\u201d chief financial officer Jonathan Pastusek said. \u201cSo we\u2019re trying to get at least halfway there.\u201d<\/p>\n If approved, the district\u2019s total tax rate would be $1.0841 per $100 of property value, slightly below last year\u2019s $1.0879. If rejected, it would drop to $1.0541.<\/p>\n District leaders emphasize that, despite the ballot\u2019s state-required \u201ctax increase\u201d language, most homeowners will see lower bills next year because of state tax compression and an expected $40,000 increase to homestead exemptions. The constitutional amendment increasing that exemption<\/a> is before Texas voters Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cOur costs have gone up dramatically while our revenue per student is staying the same,\u201d Pastusek said.<\/p>\n Texas lawmakers approved more than $8 billion in new money for public schools this year, including a $55-per-student increase in the state\u2019s basic allotment. However, administrators across Texas say that\u2019s not enough to keep pace with inflation and other costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD<\/p>\n HEB ISD\u2019s measure would raise roughly $12 million to shore up a budget shortfall and maintain salaries and programs.<\/p>\n Superintendent Joe Harrington said the district delayed asking voters as long as possible. Now the district faces a shortfall of $15 million to $18 million this fiscal year.<\/p>\n \u201cWe held out as long as we could,\u201d Harrington said. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t balance the budget without it any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n The proposal would lift HEB ISD\u2019s maintenance-and-operations rate from 67.26 cents to 70.26 cents, while the debt-service rate \u2014 which pays for bond projects \u2014 would rise 3 cents to 32.63 cents. Together, the total would be $1.0289 per $100 valuation.<\/p>\n If voters reject the measure, the total rate would be 99.89 cents.<\/p>\n District leaders say most homeowners would still owe slightly less than last year because of the state\u2019s continued rate compression and expected exemption increase. Harrington added that the district\u2019s request is about stability, not expansion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what we need to maintain what we have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Voter confusion, slower growth and high turnout make approval tougher<\/p>\n Administrators from both districts say approval could hinge on voter understanding of the ballot language and complex state funding system. Meanwhile, the tax-rate elections are occurring in a broader environment where passage of such asks are more difficult.\u00a0<\/p>\n The state does not track how often these elections pass or fail statewide.\u00a0<\/p>\n A new state law<\/a> will require the Texas Bond Review Board, comptroller and the Texas Education Agency to collect that data in the future, though no start date has been set, spokesperson Melissa Holmes said.<\/p>\n Confusion over homestead exemptions, slower property value growth and high-turnout election cycles \u2014 when ballot measures tend to fare worse \u2014 could complicate the vote, officials said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Matthew Sgroi is an education reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at matthew.sgroi@fortworthreport.org or @matthewsgroi1<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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