Katy ISD sets tax ratification election for November to support educator salaries

By George Slaughter, News Editor
Posted 8/25/22

Katy school trustees Monday set a tax ratification election for November which, if approved by voters, would make up lost tax revenue and go towards educator salaries.

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Katy ISD sets tax ratification election for November to support educator salaries

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Katy school trustees Monday set a tax ratification election for November which, if approved by voters, would make up lost tax revenue and go towards educator salaries.

The measure will appear on the November state general election ballot.

Trustees voted unanimously to place the matter on the ballot while approving a $1.2 billion budget, about 88% of which goes towards staff salaries.

The district’s overall tax rate dropped from $1.3517 to $1.3048 per $100 property evaluation. This is a decrease of $0.0469, or 3.5%. This drop is reflected in the district’s maintenance and operations rate. State law requires the maintenance and operations rate drop when property values increase.

Using the newly adopted $1.3048 rate, a property valued at $363,366, with a taxable value of $324,213, would have a tax bill of $4,230.

If voters approve, or ratify, the tax rate in November, the rate would be, as it was last year, $1.3517. Using the previous example, the tax bill would be $4,382, a $152 increase.

Regardless of how the TRE measure fares in November, Katy-area property owners can expect to pay more because property values have risen, despite the lower tax rate. The demand for homes in the school district remains strong and the student enrollment continues to increase dramatically. Earlier this year, the district surpassed 90,000 students. Superintendent Ken Gregorski said earlier this month the district expects to have an enrollment of about 100,000 students by 2030.

The maintenance and operation rate funds educator salaries. Trustees in May gave teachers and hourly workers a 5% raise, with all other personnel receiving a 3% increase. School districts nationwide are competing to hire and retain teachers amidst a nationwide teacher shortage.

School districts typically give pay raises at the end of a school year so staff and their families can begin making their plans for the next school year.

The pay raise approved in May brought with it an approximately $12 million budget deficit that officials said the district could cover.

Position 2 Trustee Lance Redmon said the TRE, if approved, would not make up for that deficit. He described the TRE as not a catch-up mechanism, but as a tool that enables the district to invest in its staff.

“The conversation was started long before next year’s budget,” Redmon said. “The TRE is there to increase employee salaries. It allows us to stay ahead.”

Position 6 Trustee Rebecca Fox also said trustees have been talking about the TRE for some time. She said the TRE, if approved, would go for people.

“We need to be able to pay them more,” Fox said. “This money will go for people. It won’t be a blank check to do whatever we want. I just want people to know that should we choose to call for an election, this money is for people. Other school districts have been doing it. It’s been on our radar for a while. My view is to ask the people to tell us what they want. Here is your choice in the ballot box. What do you want us to do?”

Position for trustee Leah Wilson said the matter was about paying educators what they deserve to be paid.

Position 1 Trustee Victor Perez said if the district follows through with the TRE, he wants to see ample funds for safety and security and additional staff.

One citizen, Regina Johnson, spoke against the TRE proposal, saying it would be “really awesome” to see more budget cuts.

Numerous school districts, including Alvin, Dallas, Friendswood, Lubbock, San Antonio and Seguin, have called for such elections.

The district has established a webpage with more information about the election, the abbreviated URL for which is bit.ly/3QWCkuw.

tax ratification election, TRE, Katy ISD, Katy ISD Board of Trustees