Bryan school board members have taken the next step towards asking voters to increase property taxes for maintenance and operations by two cents in order to collect an additional $3 million dollars in state funding. That’s in addition to the tax increase generating another $1.4 million from property owners.
The TRE, or tax ratification election, was discussed during a special meeting on Tuesday as a way to make up a $3.6 million dollar shortfall in the proposed BISD budget for the 2017-18 school year.
Bryan ISD board members and administrators…including communications director Brandon Webb…continue to stress that the two cent increase is more than offset by plans in next year’s budget to reduce the district’s tax rate to pay for bond issues by three cents.
The board is also looking at holding a special election in October instead of adding this to the regular election in November. The board was told that is in an effort to accommodate the option of split property tax payments and accurate invoicing to taxpayers.
Final action by the board to call the tax ratification election can take place as soon as the board’s next meeting on August 7.
Click HERE to read and download the budget and TRE presentation given to the Bryan school board.
Click below for comments from Brandon Webb, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.