Print
E-mail
Comment
Creek ISD bumps tax rate
The Clear Creek School Board voted unanimously to raise the property tax rate by four cents last week -- the maximum allowed by state law without going to the voters. The increase has been expected since this summer when CCISD found fuel and utility costs rising at alarming rates, enrollment continuing to grow and very little left for employee cost-of-living salary increases. The tax rate hike will mean a $32 per year increase on a $100,000 home and $70 for a $200,000. With the increase, the tax rate goes from $1.32 per $100 valuation to $1.36 -- still much lower than the 2008 rate of $1.63 per hundred. Each one cent increase in the tax rate will bring in about $2 million.
School taxes are frozen for disabled taxpayers and seniors 65 and older who have the homestead and over 65 exemptions. Board President Stuart Stromeyer pointed out that CCISD was one of the last districts to take the four cents allowed by the Texas Legislature without going to the voters. He said the increase is "something we have to do." Trustee Robert Davee fumed over inadequate state funding, using as an example the requirement that four years of math and science are now required in Texas schools.
"But there are not enough math and science teachers to go around. So we have to go out of state." Both Davee and Trustee Ken Baliker pointed out to Superintendent Greg Smith that because of the wide loss of property in the area from Hurricane Ike, CCISD can expect a drop in revenue in the next cycle and suggested that the district needs to watch the expense side of the ledger.
School taxes are frozen for disabled taxpayers and seniors 65 and older who have the homestead and over 65 exemptions. Board President Stuart Stromeyer pointed out that CCISD was one of the last districts to take the four cents allowed by the Texas Legislature without going to the voters. He said the increase is "something we have to do." Trustee Robert Davee fumed over inadequate state funding, using as an example the requirement that four years of math and science are now required in Texas schools.
"But there are not enough math and science teachers to go around. So we have to go out of state." Both Davee and Trustee Ken Baliker pointed out to Superintendent Greg Smith that because of the wide loss of property in the area from Hurricane Ike, CCISD can expect a drop in revenue in the next cycle and suggested that the district needs to watch the expense side of the ledger.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. Comments to stories and articles on the Web site are not edited or pre-approved before appearing online. Readers posting comments are solely responsible for those comments. Comments must be germane to the story to which they apply. Online comments that are libelous, profane or personally attack another site participant can be reported as abuse using the link provided on each comment. Comments reported as abusive will be reviewed and may be removed from view, as will off-topic comments. BE CIVIL. Individuals continually posting abusive comments to the site may have their registrations revoked. |
