SISD trustees propose same total tax rate for 2017-18

Parks and Osman — Stephenville ISD School Board vice presidnt Scott Osman, left, and trustee Cole Parks spoke Monday against the district spending $655,000 to have its own locker room constructed as part of the planned renovations to Memorial Stadium at Tarleton State University. || Photo by The Flash Today

By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (July 18, 2017) — Yes, a bond election looms in the near future, but as of now, it doesn’t appear Stephenville ISD will make any change to the total property tax rate charged by the district.

Trustees voted unanimously during their regular monthly meeting in favor of again setting the total tax rate at $1.2349 per $100 in valuation, with $1.17 of that going into maintenance and operations and the remaining $0.0649 toward interest and sinking, or debt funding.

At these rates, the district, according to information provided during the meeting and available, along with the district’s proposed budget for 2017-18 by CLICKING HERE, will receive almost $32 million in general funds with almost $30 million in expenditures planned for 2017-18.

The proposal would also send almost $1.3 million to the district’s debt service fund. That’s $1.4 million less than the estimated expenditures for that fund in 2017-18, with a commitment of necessary general funds already in place to cover the difference.

A public hearing and other requirements must be met before the proposed rate before trustees are allowed to officially approve it for the next year. Keeping the same rate by no means guarantees property owners won’t see changes in their property tax bills, as valuations from the Erath County Central Appraisal District may change, and other taxing districts affecting a property could elect to change their rates.

Blue digits (the positive ones on the school district’s chart) meant good news when comparing STARR test results to the rest of the state. Stephenville came in with a pass rate of of between 2 and 12 percent higher than the state average all across the board with only one exception, as they were even with the state in fifth grade math.

SISD was not quite as far ahead of state averages in most categories as the district was in 2016, but also remained at or ahead or ahead of averages in its region.

Trustees also approved the 2017-18 district employee handbook (see changes HERE) and code of conduct (see updates HERE), gave the green light for the removal and replacement of an underground tank and approved the usual round of minutes, bills, vendors, financial statements and budget amendments.

The next regular meeting including the public hearing concerning the proposed budget and property tax rate before they can be approved, is Monday, August 21 2017, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Bond Auditorium.