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Putting school budgets together was a little easier this year.
The second part of a state-mandated school tax increase took effect for the 2007-08 school year, generally dropping school tax bills. Even homeowners with higher appraisals are likely to see some savings.
Except Kemp.
The Kemp district took advantage of the decrease to pass a bond issue for a new high school. It was able to sell the bonds, raising the tax rate to pay for those. But with the tax decrease for maintenance and operation, the overall rate remained the same.
“We explained to everyone that they could get a new high school and the tax rate would stay the same,” said Kaye Walker, the district’s business manager. “I thought that was a pretty good deal.”
The differences between the districts’ tax rates come from the amount used to pay off debt. Tax rates are made of two parts – the tax rate used to pay regular operations and another rate used to pay off debt, usually from the sale of bonds. By law, the operations rate is standard across districts.
As local school property tax rates, drop the state was too move in and supply a bigger percentage of operating funds. But school administrators weren’t convinced. They worried the state would not provide enough to keep up with growing costs.
In general, though, the districts’ aren’t as pinched this year as they have been over the past several years, said Dwayne Thompson, Forney’s budget director. At least if your district is growing.
Funding is based on the number of students. Theoretically, a district with the same number of students this year would get the same amount as last year, even though costs for such things as teacher salaries, energy and food have gone up. Differences in special categories keeps the funding changing, even if they number of students stays the same.
“The situation we’re in is with increasing students we’re not feeling [money problems] as much as a district not growing or growing slowly,” Mr. Thompson said.
If the Legislature doesn’t make adjustments within the next few years, the districts will have problems keeping up quality, he said.
Becky Wesson, finance director, for the Terrell district said it saw enough enrollment increase to bring in some new money. As in many districts, it went to salaries.
“We really focused on the employees,” she said.
There was some increase for all employees and teacher pay went up an average of $3,600. The district also picked up more of insurance costs.
© Copyright 2005-2008 by Kaufman County Online
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| Last Updated: Aug 13th, 2008 - 22:48:38 |
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