Voters in Northwest and Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISDs supported 3-cent property tax-rate increases Tuesday, giving both districts a potential boost in local revenue to reduce class sizes and maintain competitive teacher pay.<\/p>\n
The measures passed, according to unofficial results. In Northwest ISD, 51.87% of voters backed the increase, according to a news release. HEB ISD voters backed the proposition with 51.14% of the vote, according to Tarrant County Elections Administration.<\/p>\n
Passage would mark a turnaround for Northwest ISD, where a similar proposal failed last year and forced $16 million in cuts. HEB ISD leaders said the new revenue would help close a projected $15 million to $18 million budget gap while preserving programs and salaries.<\/p>\n
Northwest ISD<\/p>\n
The approved 3-cent rate would generate about $12 million in new funding, including $8 million for restoring positions and reducing class sizes, and $4 million for future raises, officials said.<\/p>\n
Chief financial officer Jonathan Pastusek said voters\u2019 support will allow the district to begin rehiring positions lost last year and lower student-teacher ratios in key grades.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t put it all back,\u201d Pastusek said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to get at least halfway there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The district\u2019s total tax rate will be $1.0841 per $100 of property value, slightly below last year\u2019s $1.0879, due to state tax compression.<\/p>\n
Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD<\/p>\n
HEB ISD\u2019s measure would add roughly $12 million in local funding, raising its maintenance-and-operations rate from 67.26 cents to 70.26 cents. The total tax rate will rise to $1.0289 per $100 valuation.<\/p>\n
Superintendent Joe Harrington said the district\u2019s request was about stability, not expansion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe held out as long as we could,\u201d he said. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t balance the budget without it any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
District leaders said most homeowners would still see lower overall tax bills because of continued state rate compression and a $40,000 homestead exemption increase, which voters statewide appeared likely to approve Tuesday, according to early results.<\/p>\n
While 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, administrators across Texas say that\u2019s not enough to keep up with inflation and costs.<\/p>\n
The state does not currently track how often these tax-rate elections pass or fail.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A new law will require the Texas Bond Review Board, Comptroller\u2019s Office and Texas Education Agency to collect that data in the future, though no start date has been set, agency spokesperson Melissa Holmes said.<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s note: This story was first published Nov. 4, 2025, and updated at 8:18 a.m. Nov. 5 with unofficial results.<\/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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