Northside Trustees to vote on 2007-08 budget Aug. 28

NISD Communications Department

August 22, 2007

The Northside Board of Trustees is scheduled to approve the 2007-08 budget next week, along with a proposed tax rate drop from $1.5925 to $1.2625 per $100 of property value. A public hearing on the proposed budget was held Tuesday night.

At the Aug. 28 Board meeting, Trustees will vote on a $907 million budget, which includes a general fund budget of about $601 million. Northside’s 2007-08 proposed general fund is about 7 percent – or $41.5 million – higher than 2006-07.

George Torres, Northside’s Deputy Superintendent for Business and Financial Services, said the increase in the general fund addresses the District’s growth, pay raises, and inflation.

Northside will open three new schools this year and will hire 560 new employees, including teachers, bus drivers, and custodians to accommodate an enrollment that is growing by 4,000 students a year. In addition, most District staff members, including teachers, received a 5 percent salary increase.

“This is a fiscally responsible budget,” Torres said. “I give credit to the Board and the Superintendent, who have had to make some tough choices over the years – from salary freezes to class schedule changes – to keep the District in the black.”

The District’s tax rate will drop 33 cents this year, as required by a state legislative mandate. Because of its stable finances, once again, Northside will not access any of the four additional cents allowed by state law.

Under the new $1.26 tax rate, the average Northside homeowner, whose home is valued at $154,845 will pay $1,708.05 in annual property taxes. Last year, the average Northside homeowner whose home was valued at $138,434 paid $1,923.13 in property taxes. Even with the higher home value, that’s a decrease of $215.08.

The average cost of a home in Northside has risen because of an increase in appraised values, as well as the construction of new higher-priced homes.

Superintendent John Folks said he was pleased with the budget, especially considering the state Legislature provided no additional funding for inflation and only a $425 pay raise for teachers. “This budget addresses our needs and not much else,” he said. “Fortunately our Board and our financial staff have been very prudent with way the District spends money.”

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