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CISD OKs 3-cent tax rate increase
By Kassia Micek
The Conroe Independent School District is raising its tax rate 3 cents for the upcoming school year.
In addition to the new tax rate of $1.27 per $100 property valuation, the CISD board approved the 2008-09 budget at $313.553 million during Tuesday’s meeting.
With the new tax rate, owners of a $100,000 home would pay $1,079.50 annually in school taxes, including the state’s homestead exemption. That is a $25.50 increase annually from the 2007-08 tax rate of $1.24 per $100 property valuation.
“We have made a very focused effort to have the lowest tax rate among our peers,” said CISD Chief Financial Officer Dan Cox. “The good news is that even bringing our tax rate up 3 cents it’s still lower than the 2005 tax rate.”
The 79th Legislature passed House Bill 1 in May 2006, which required districts across the state to lower taxes.
Compared to the newly approved tax rate, owners of a $100,000 home are paying $416.50 less annually in school taxes, including the state’s homestead exemption, than they were with the 2005-06 tax rate of $1.76.
“We’ve probably had, if not the lowest, it’s one of the lowest tax rates in the state of Texas,” CISD board president Lynda Sasser said. “(The financial department) has done such a good job with budgeting that we haven’t had to greatly increase the tax rate.”
The board also adopted a resolution explaining why it fell short of the proposed expenditure target established by the commissioner of education for the amount of funds to be spent on instruction.
The state set the requirement this year that school districts are to spend 65 percent of the budget on instruction.
“This is the first year that they set the target,” Cox said. “I still think we’re doing a good job. Most districts I’ve seen are adopting this resolution.”
The district is spending 86.5 percent ($271.3 million) of its 2008-09 budget on salaries and benefits. However, the state defines instruction as direct classroom instruction, extracurricular activities, payments to member districts of shared services and payments to juvenile alternative education programs, according to the resolution.
One of the reasons CISD fell short of the 65 percent target is the district’s large geographical size, the frequency of stops and the number of students using the transportation system, in addition to the rising cost of electricity, according to the resolution.
“Unless they do something about transportation and other areas, we can’t reach that target,” said Mel Brown, CISD board first vice president. “You can’t teach kids unless you can get them to the school.”
Election: The board approved a joint election contract with Montgomery County for the Nov. 4 election, when Positions 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be up for election, in addition to a special election for the unexpired term of Position 2.
Construction: The following guaranteed maximum prices were approved: $8.771 million, San Jacinto Elementary additions; $23.624 million, The Woodlands College Park High School additions and renovations, CISD Police Facility and Knox Junior High renovations; $12.3 million, Conroe High School addition; and $4.797 million, Tough Intermediate and Deretchin Elementary. All projects will be funded through the 2008 bond referendum of $527 million voters approved in May.
The board also approved $550,000 for a 2,900-square-foot alternate addition to the San Jacinto cafeteria.
Kassia Micek can be reached at kmicek@hcnonline.com.
By the numbers
CISD tax rate
$1.27 per $100 valuation: 2008-09
$1.24 per $100 valuation: 2007-08
In addition to the new tax rate of $1.27 per $100 property valuation, the CISD board approved the 2008-09 budget at $313.553 million during Tuesday’s meeting.
With the new tax rate, owners of a $100,000 home would pay $1,079.50 annually in school taxes, including the state’s homestead exemption. That is a $25.50 increase annually from the 2007-08 tax rate of $1.24 per $100 property valuation.
“We have made a very focused effort to have the lowest tax rate among our peers,” said CISD Chief Financial Officer Dan Cox. “The good news is that even bringing our tax rate up 3 cents it’s still lower than the 2005 tax rate.”
The 79th Legislature passed House Bill 1 in May 2006, which required districts across the state to lower taxes.
Compared to the newly approved tax rate, owners of a $100,000 home are paying $416.50 less annually in school taxes, including the state’s homestead exemption, than they were with the 2005-06 tax rate of $1.76.
“We’ve probably had, if not the lowest, it’s one of the lowest tax rates in the state of Texas,” CISD board president Lynda Sasser said. “(The financial department) has done such a good job with budgeting that we haven’t had to greatly increase the tax rate.”
The board also adopted a resolution explaining why it fell short of the proposed expenditure target established by the commissioner of education for the amount of funds to be spent on instruction.
The state set the requirement this year that school districts are to spend 65 percent of the budget on instruction.
“This is the first year that they set the target,” Cox said. “I still think we’re doing a good job. Most districts I’ve seen are adopting this resolution.”
The district is spending 86.5 percent ($271.3 million) of its 2008-09 budget on salaries and benefits. However, the state defines instruction as direct classroom instruction, extracurricular activities, payments to member districts of shared services and payments to juvenile alternative education programs, according to the resolution.
One of the reasons CISD fell short of the 65 percent target is the district’s large geographical size, the frequency of stops and the number of students using the transportation system, in addition to the rising cost of electricity, according to the resolution.
“Unless they do something about transportation and other areas, we can’t reach that target,” said Mel Brown, CISD board first vice president. “You can’t teach kids unless you can get them to the school.”
Election: The board approved a joint election contract with Montgomery County for the Nov. 4 election, when Positions 4, 5, 6 and 7 will be up for election, in addition to a special election for the unexpired term of Position 2.
Construction: The following guaranteed maximum prices were approved: $8.771 million, San Jacinto Elementary additions; $23.624 million, The Woodlands College Park High School additions and renovations, CISD Police Facility and Knox Junior High renovations; $12.3 million, Conroe High School addition; and $4.797 million, Tough Intermediate and Deretchin Elementary. All projects will be funded through the 2008 bond referendum of $527 million voters approved in May.
The board also approved $550,000 for a 2,900-square-foot alternate addition to the San Jacinto cafeteria.
Kassia Micek can be reached at kmicek@hcnonline.com.
By the numbers
CISD tax rate
$1.27 per $100 valuation: 2008-09
$1.24 per $100 valuation: 2007-08
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Reader Comments
mdonn wrote on Aug 20, 2008 8:11 AM:
" Does this add up to 12 million, or will it cover the bonds, or are we planning on building another stadium.
They lower taxes raise apprasials and then try to tell you that they have lowered for so long, that now they have to rasie it, is a political hogwash to get your vote.
Want to stop it? Vote in a whole new crew at every level in our local gov. "
They lower taxes raise apprasials and then try to tell you that they have lowered for so long, that now they have to rasie it, is a political hogwash to get your vote.
Want to stop it? Vote in a whole new crew at every level in our local gov. "
Whiskyecho wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:13 AM:
" gee - here's a thought:
instead of increase, increase, increase why not stop spending, spending, spending
(I agree with the voodoo economics comment above) "
instead of increase, increase, increase why not stop spending, spending, spending
(I agree with the voodoo economics comment above) "
talltexgal wrote on Aug 20, 2008 11:44 AM:
" AMAZING! The district can spend MILLIONS on a new stadium, a natatorium, and other "extras" but, cannot seem to fund them with current proceeds. I only wish I could run my household with the same mentality. Unfortunately, if I did, me and my kids would be living under the bridge. I find it hard to believe that a College Park High School already needs additions and renovations. The school is but 5-6 years old. Can you say POOR PLANNING? "
rldrp2003 wrote on Aug 20, 2008 1:36 AM:
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, none of these entities' *voodoo economics* mean anything so long as MCAD's property appraisals continue to rise year after year after year. Seems slightly analgous to the ol' good cop/bad cop scenario, only in this case, it's difficult to determine who's who. Can you spell *collusion*? :-p "