NISD trustees approve budget, lower property tax rate

NISD Communications Department

September 1, 2006

Northside's Board of Trustees Tuesday night unanimously approved an annual budget that includes funding for new schools and teachers and salary raises for all District employees.

Also Tuesday night, trustees lowered the District's property tax rate from $1.77 to $1.59 per $100 of property value. Because of a mandate from the state Legislature, all districts must lower the maintenance and operation portion of the tax rate, but Northside has the largest decrease among Bexar County school districts.

"Because of the diligence of our Board of Trustees and our administrative team, Northside is in one of the better financial positions it's been in for years," Superintendent John Folks said.

All teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses will get a 5 percent raise, and all other employees will receive a 4 percent raise.

The 5 percent raise for teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses in addition to the $2,000 state-funded pay increase that is part of the new school finance bill, or House Bill 1, approved by the Legislature earlier this year. Between Northside's raise and the state’s pay increase, a first year teacher with no experience will earn $41,000 a year. A starting teacher with a master's degree and no experience begins at $42,000 a year.

Trustees Tuesday night approved a total budget of $878 million, which includes $548 million in general operating expenditures and a fund balance, or savings account, of almost $114 million.

"This is a responsible and sound budget," says Randall Fields, School Board President. "It provides a fair salary increase for all employees and provides funding for operating the school system in a way that this community expects."

He adds, "While the Texas Legislature provided an option for local school boards to raise additional funds through tax increases of up to 4 cents, this Board held the line on raising taxes. We are now at the same level of interest and sinking (I&S) taxes that are pre-Bond 2004."

George Torres, Deputy Superintendent for Business and Financial Services, said the 2006-07 budget addresses three important areas: employee compensation, the increased costs of running a school district, and growth.

The budget includes funding for more than 800 additional teachers to accommodate an enrollment that's growing by about 4,000 students a year, he said. Northside also opened four new elementary schools this year, and will open eight more new schools in the next two years.

Over the past few years, NISD has endured a salary freeze and budget cuts, but because tough financial decisions were made then, the District now is enjoying financial stability, Torres said.

"We feel very good about the budget," he said. "The superintendent and the Board of Trustees have been very good stewards of taxpayer dollars."

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