Close Menu
Invest Intellect
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Invest Intellect
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
    • Home
    • Commodities
    • Cryptocurrency
    • Fintech
    • Investments
    • Precious Metal
    • Property
    • Stock Market
    Invest Intellect
    Home»Property»Will Voters Agree to Max Out School Property Taxes Amid Budget Crisis? Austin ISD asks residents to support a property tax increase – News
    Property

    Will Voters Agree to Max Out School Property Taxes Amid Budget Crisis? Austin ISD asks residents to support a property tax increase – News

    August 22, 20244 Mins Read


    AISD is looking to max out its property tax rate (image by Zeke Barbaro / Maggie Quinlan / Getty Images)

    Yep, it happened – Austin ISD’s board of trustees signed off on the long-discussed voter approval tax rate election on Monday evening. Known by its acronym, VATRE, the proposal is a request to Austin citizens to raise their property taxes an average of about $35 a month. The board voted 8-1 to place the VATRE as a proposition on the November ballot.

    The board began considering the VATRE last spring as a partial solution to the district’s budget deficit, which has zoomed to $99 million for the current school year. By May, the trustees were discussing a disturbing element of the proposal – that because of the state’s complicated school funding mechanism, only about $40 million of the $170 million in new taxes would stay in the district. The rest would go to the state of Texas, possibly for use on the Republicans’ border wall and outrages against the transgender community and women seeking health care. It could even, if Greg Abbott’s school voucher scheme is approved in the upcoming legislative session, go to private religious schools that teach far-right dogma.

    The unfortunate reality that not all VATRE taxes will go to AISD has been denounced by some trustees, particularly Kevin Foster. Others have acknowledged the VATRE’s downside but insisted that it’s necessary. District officials have consistently, patiently, quietly continued to request its approval.

    All of that was on display one last time in discussions before Monday’s vote, which kicked off with Foster signaling his intention to vote no. “We are in an abusive relationship with the state,” he said, “and when you are in an abusive relationship, at some point you have to say no.”

    “We are in an abusive relationship with the state,” he said, “and when you are in an abusive relationship, at some point you have to say no.” – Austin ISD Trustee Kevin Foster

    Every member of the board went on to offer comments. Lynn Boswell said she would vote to approve the proposal for the same reason that Foster was opposed – because Texas Republicans are starving public education and it is necessary to do whatever is possible to support our schools. David Kauffman emphasized that the community will now decide. “I personally am in favor of the tax rate increase,” he said, “but what we’re voting for today is an election to allow our voters in Austin to make that decision.”

    Noelita Lugo agreed that the district is in an abusive relationship with the state: “And as a child who grew up in a family where there was abuse, my mom did what she had to do to keep us protected. So, much like Trustee Boswell, I’m also voting tonight in favor of calling for an election.” Kathryn Whitley Chu followed, saying she has faith the community will vote yes.

    Andrew Gonzales, who rarely speaks at board meetings, echoed the subtle contempt voiced by previous speakers. “I am shocked by the way that the people that lead us are treating us,” he said. “They’re willing to give away, at this point, billions to a voucher scheme that has no evidence of working anywhere in the country. It is disgusting. Shame on them, truly.”

    After trustees Ofelia Zapata and Candace Hunter declared their support for the VATRE, Arati Singh, the board president, closed the discussion. “If I felt voting no on this would make any difference at the state level, then maybe I would vote no,” she said. “But it’s not going to make a difference.” Singh noted that the $40 million that could be raised by the VATRE would provide $550 more for each district student, and reminded listeners that AISD is working hard to cut its budget.

    “I want to make crystal clear that our administration and board are committed, absolutely committed, to making cuts as well,” she said. “We’re not going to just continue business as usual and expect taxpayers to lift all the burden. In fact, for every dollar that we would bring in with this VATRE, we’re actually committing to cutting at least $2.”

    In a press release after the vote, Superintendent Matias Segura said the contemplated cuts will amount to 10% of the district’s current budget and be unveiled in October. Now, with the board’s hand wringing over the VATRE in the rearview mirror, all eyes will turn to that budget cutting process.





    Source link

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    Related Posts

    NJ among states with highest property taxes. Here’s where it ranks

    Property

    What are the most dangerous cities in Louisiana? Study shows 10 crime rates

    Property

    ‘We felt like UK had let us down so moved to £23,400 house in Bulgaria’

    Property

    Massive 2ft rat discovered in council property sparks urgent warning

    Property

    United Hampshire US Reit acquires freehold Pennsylvania shopping centre for US$16.4 million

    Property

    Hollywood A-lister’s sprawling UK mansion with THREE private islands hits market for £4.5m – can you guess famous owner?

    Property
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Top Picks
    Investments

    Création d’un poste d’ombudsperson pour les personnes âgées

    Stock Market

    3 Resilient Singapore Stocks Sporting Dividend Yields of 4.2% and Above

    Precious Metal

    Gold price slips below $3,400 as US Dollar firms despite rising geopolitical concerns

    Editors Picks

    Le Lion d’Angers (L) : le sacre pour Gold Allen

    May 29, 2025

    Digitalisation de l’épargne : Malakoff Humanis s’empare de la jeune pousse Mon Petit Placement

    May 6, 2025

    Lani Hayes: The Financial Strategist Behind High-Value Art Investments

    January 23, 2025

    Major UK retailer given green light to build HOMES in first for company as it looks to build 350 new flats

    July 26, 2024
    What's Hot

    Real Estate Credit Investments Limited annonce le versement d’un dividende

    June 25, 2025

    Propriété numérique dans le sport : un univers qui inquiète

    March 28, 2025

    £10,000 to invest? 2 high-yield FTSE 100 dividend stocks I’d buy today

    August 11, 2024
    Our Picks

    Al-Jouf Agricultural Development étend le protocole d’accord pour le transfert de la technologie de développement des semences de pommes de terre -Le 21 janvier 2025 à 08:30

    January 20, 2025

    DMI Finance, MUFG portfolio company, faces lower growth after RBI action | by Norbert Gehrke | Tokyo FinTech | Oct, 2024

    October 19, 2024

    Gold price tops $2,700 for first time to extend record run

    October 18, 2024
    Weekly Top

    Congress’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Will Shrink Renewable Energy Investments—Yet Some Technologies Are Preserved

    August 4, 2025

    ‘I will not be OK for a while’

    August 4, 2025

    NJ among states with highest property taxes. Here’s where it ranks

    August 4, 2025
    Editor's Pick

    5 Best Neighborhoods in Kuala Lumpur to Buy Property

    July 17, 2024

    Taiba Investments enregistre une croissance de son bénéfice net et de son chiffre d’affaires au premier trimestre

    May 10, 2025

    Best High Dividend Paying Stocks Right Now • Updated Daily • Benzinga

    April 10, 2025
    © 2025 Invest Intellect
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.