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CISD board calls for tax ratification election
By Lena Price, special to The Times
The Carroll ISD Board of Trustees adopted a property tax rate of $1.42, up one-half cent from the current rate. If voters approve the new rate in a special September election, the average Southlake homeowner will pay about $25 more in property taxes every year.
After almost two hours of discussion during Monday's meeting, the board voted 6-1 to increase the maintenance and operation portion of the property tax by 2 cents and called a ratification election for Sept. 15. Trustee Fred Stovall voted against the increase.
To ease the burden on taxpayers, the board also voted to lower the interest and sinking portion of the property tax by 1.5 cents. If voters do not approve the 2 cent maintenance and operation increase, the 1.5 cent decrease will still be implemented. Homeowners would see an average tax decrease of about $75 per year.
"At the end of the day, whether or not we have an increase is up to the people who vote," he said.
About 25 community members attended Monday's board meeting, and seven Southlake residents spoke against the possible increase.
Southlake realtor Leigh Wambsganss said the board needed to take a closer look at possible programs to cut before raising taxes.
"I was looking at the CISD website recently, and I realized we have a lot of really great programs that we just don't have the money for," Wambsganss said. "There are some really great things I would like to get my kids that I just can't afford. We all have to live within our means."
Sixty-five-year-old Southlake resident Polly McCleeve said she has lived in the area for about 13 years. She told the board she's seen many people close to her age move out of her subdivision because the property taxes are already too high. An additional increase could drive out even more senior citizens, she said.
"I have no kids in Carroll schools, and I never have," McCleve said. "From what I've heard, sending your child to a Carroll school is like sending them to a private school. I paid for my kids to go to private school, and this district can't continue to increase spending."
Two residents, including realtor Suzanne Maisto, spoke in favor of the increase. Maisto said property values in Carroll ISD remain high because people realize what a high-quality district it is.
"As parents, we want the district to continue to succeed," she said. "We want the same level of excellence we've come to expect."
Board vice president Sue Armstrong said she is becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Texas legislature. During the 2011 session, the legislature cut a total of $4 billion from public education funding, forcing districts around the state to cut budgets and raise taxes. Although Carroll ISD eliminated eight teaching positions and delayed the start of school, Armstrong said cutting the budget will only do so much to ease the district's $2.8 million deficit for the 2012-13 school year.
"This is a state problem, not a district problem," Armstrong said. "Sometimes I'm glad that my last child is a sophomore in high school, and I think that says something sad about the state of education in Texas."
Ballew said even if the half cent increase passes, the increase would just be a "drop in the bucket" to help close the budget deficit the district is facing next year.
"We achieved a balanced budget last year, and we're taking steps toward it again this year," Ballew said. "But the reality is, based on state funding levels, we are no where near a balanced budget this year."
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