COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The College Station ISD Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve the district’s tax rate and budget for the 2024-2025 year.

Tax rate

The district proposed a 2.8% tax rate increase. At that rate, the average home in College Station would pay about $100 more in taxes.

“We must consider our financial responsibility while also taking care of our teachers and staff,” said Board Chairman Jeff Horak.

The proposed total tax rate is approximately $0.97 per $100 of value.

According to county documents, a tax rate of $0.946 would ensure the same level of revenue as this year. That rate is lower than last year’s rate and the rate proposed for this year.

The school district’s taxes are divided into two “buckets”: a debt service tax and a maintenance and operations tax. The district raises the maintenance rate, which is used to cover fixed costs and salaries.

“There are a lot of fixed costs in a school building. That could be your principal, your assistant principal, your nurse, your counselor,” explained Heather Wilson, CFO of College Station ISD.

budget

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Like many school districts across the state, College Station ISD has passed a deficit budget. The district expects revenues of about $202 million but projects expenses of $207 million.

The budget is divided into three categories: the general fund, the debt service fund and the child nutrition fund. Almost all of the district’s costs are covered by the general fund, and the majority of it goes toward paying teachers and staff.

More than half of the district’s budget is spent directly on instruction, so teachers and staff will receive raises.

“A flat rate of 2 percent for all employees and then another 2.5 percent for our bus drivers,” announced Horak.

Although the district passed a deficit budget for the year, it also recognized a 10-month budget.

Wilson said the district has aligned its fiscal year more closely with the school year, which she said ultimately resulted in a surplus of nearly $2 million through cost savings.

“We will save 100% in the months of July and August. That alone represents a savings of over a million dollars,” Wilson added.

This leaves $75,000 left in the debt service fund to be used elsewhere.

outlook

Despite the expected savings, much of the discussion at the meeting revolved around the need for state funding for public education.

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