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Bryan ISD School Board Discusses The Possibility Of Asking Voters This November To Increase The Property Tax Rate

The year after Bryan ISD school board members received voter approval for a $397 million dollar bond package, the board hears a presentation that could lead to voters being asked this November to approve a two cent increase in the property tax rate for maintenance and operations. BISD’s chief financial officer Norma Friddle explained what state law calls a voter approved tax rate election or VATRE at the board’s March 23rd meeting as part of a monthly presentation about developing the budget for the 2026-2027 school year. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting. State law allows school districts to ask voters to increase the property tax rate by up to eight cents without returning some of the money to the state. Bryan ISD has used six of the eight cents. The BISD board has until August 17th to decide whether to ask voters to approve raising the tax rate by the remaining two cents allowed by state law. That would generate $5.5 million dollars for BISD. For the owner of a $350,000 dollar home, after subtracting the homestead exemption of $140,000, the property tax increase on a home with a taxable value of $210,000 would be $42 dollars a year. Friddle and some board members brought up the funding shortfall that remains after state lawmakers last year increased the basic allotment by $55 per student. Because the amount had not been changed since 2019, board members were told the increase should have been $1,300 per student. Board members were also told that unfunded mandates still exist, and costs are rising faster than funding, particularly with covering employee medical expenses. Nothing was said about where Bryan ISD would spend VATRE money if board members decide to call an election and if the proposition passed. Board members were told VATRE money could be spent on salaries, contracted services, utilities, programs, and other operating expenses. Click below to hear comments from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Listen to “Bryan ISD school board discusses the possibility of asking voters this November to increase the property tax rate” on Spreaker.

Habitat For Humanity B/CS Is Accepting Their First Homebuyer Applications In A Year And A Half

Habitat for Humanity Bryan/College Station is accepting their first homebuyer applications in a year and a half. That was part of an update given by spokesman Charles Coats at Tuesday’s (March 24) Brazos County commission meeting. As a part of accepting applications, Coats asked to spread the word about free information sessions that are taking place this Friday (March 27) at the Habitat office. There will be an English language session at 6 p.m., followed by a Spanish language session at 7 p.m. The sessions will be held at Habitat’s education building, located at the rear of their property at 119 Lake Street in Bryan. Click HERE to be directed to the Habitat B/CS Facebook page for more information. Click below to hear comments from Charles Coats at the March 24, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Habitat for Humanity B/CS is accepting their first homebuyer applications in a year and a half” on Spreaker.

College Station City Officials Respond To Firefighters Union Activity

This Thursday (March 26) is the College Station city council’s first meeting in a month. The nearly 1,300 page agenda does not include discussion in public or private about some firefighters interest to ask voters to recognize them as a civil service organization with the ability to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. College Station city councilmen William Wright and David White and deputy city manager Jeff Capps shared on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs their thoughts about firefighter union activity. As of March 24, there has been no announcements on the Facebook page of the College Station Professional Firefighters Association. And on March 13, WTAW News invited a comment from the regional vice president of the International Association of Firefighters that includes Texas. Click below to hear visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia and Jeff Capps, and WTAW’s Will Welch visits with William Wright and David White. Listen to “College Station city officials respond to firefighters union activity” on Spreaker.