The Whitney Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the district’s budget and tax rate in a special meeting held Thursday, August 28.
The board approved a tax rate of $0.9511 per $100 property valuation. That is down from last year’s rate of $0.9938 but is the calculated voter-approval rate, which would trigger an election if exceeded.
The overall tax rate breaks down to $0.7552 for maintenance and operations and $0.1959 for debt service.
The average taxable value of a residence in the district was calculated at $103,956 this year, down slightly from last year. On the average residence, the tax bill would be about $65 less than last year.
The numbers are calculated assuming passage of the increased homestead exemption that will go before Texas voters in November. The change would raise the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 and apply to the 2025 tax year.
Texas voters last approved a homestead exemption increase for school district taxes in 2023, when it was raised from $40,000 to $100,000.
One resident spoke during a public hearing on the proposal. Amy Teal encouraged the board to continue crunching the numbers and try to achieve an effective tax decrease, noting that the proposed rate was effectively a 13% increase.
She said that even though the tax notice showed a $65 savings on taxes at the proposed rate, the legislature approved the homestead exemption increase to provide significant tax relief. Teal said that renters will not benefit from the increased homestead exemption and will face an increase in their rent.
The board also approved the district’s budget for the coming fiscal year. Superintendent Todd Southard said that the balanced budget accomplishes a lot of goals for the district, and board members noted that this was the first budget in several years to be balanced. Southard said that there are districts passing deficit budgets this year, and Whitney ISD is thankfully not in that position.
In other action, board members approved the district’s implementation of Senate Bill 12, relating to parental rights in education.
The legislation makes a number of changes to operations, including banning “diversity, equity and inclusion” policies and programs. It allows parents access to all written records concerning their child, including what they are checking out from the library. It also requires parental permission for a student to join a club, see the nurse or see a counselor.
The board convened in closed session to review the superintendent’s contract and voted when open session resumed to approve his contract through 2028.
The Lakelander 