Board of Trustees approves 2009-10 budget and tax rate; tax rate is 2 cents lower than projected

NISD Communications Department

August 26, 2009

The Northside ISD Board of Trustees Tuesday night approved the 2009-10 budget and also voted to increase the District's property tax rate to pay for new classrooms for NISD's growing enrollment.

The $1.088 billion budget will fund the opening of four new schools and 310 new staff positions to accommodate an enrollment that is increasing by about 3,000 new students a year. Current enrollment is estimated at about 91,500, and earlier this week, the District opened a new middle school and three elementary schools.

"This budget approval comes at the end of a six-month process, where staff and Trustees combed over line items in a billion dollar budget," Trustee Randy Fields said.

The District's tax rate will increase 3.5 cents from $1.3025 to $1.3375. The tax increase is needed to pay for voter-approved bonds that are funding new schools and renovation and expansion projects throughout the District.

That means the school property taxes for the owner of a $150,000 house (assuming no increase in property value and a $15,000 homestead exemption) would increase $47.25, from $1,758.38 to $1,805.63.

The tax rate increase is needed because of a reduction in state funding and lower increases in property values.

However, the tax rate increase is still more than 2 cents lower than what was projected when voters passed School Bond 2007. Of the 12 San Antonio districts (not including military districts) NISD has the sixth lowest tax rate.

"It has been a struggle to fund all the necessary programs and fund growth," Trustee Katie Reed said. "The struggle was magnified because of the lack of adequate funding by the state."

RSS 2.0 NISD News Feed

View News Archives

Printer Friendly