Jason Spencer reports that HISD is raising its tax rate:
Houston school taxes are going up because of rising property values and a 2-cent rate increase that is expected to win school board approval on Wednesday.
The bill for the owner of the average Houston Independent School District home with a taxable value of $117,740 would be $1,907, or $147 more than last year.
HISD officials warned residents of the rate increase in 2002 when voters gave the school district permission to borrow $808 million to build 45 new schools and renovate or repair 120 others. The new tax rate — $1.62 per $100 assessed value — remains the lowest among Harris County school districts.
Trustee Kevin Hoffman said while this tax rate generates an adequate amount of money for the school district, HISD must find more income next year, either by raising taxes or through increased state funding.
[snip]
Trustees could reduce the property tax rate and still bring in as much money as last year because of a $3 billion increase in property values.
This year’s $1.36 billion budget is about $40 million more than a year ago, with most of the extra money going toward a 3 percent pay raise and a performance-based bonus plan for teachers.
It doesn’t appear that HISD is trying to fund $1.5 million press boxes or laptops for all students (talk about a boondoggle!) like Spring ISD was trying to do, so that’s encouraging. Most homeowners (I think) don’t mind paying more to help fund schools when the money is spent wisely — not frivolously.
