PG board approves tax rate, budget

Pleasant Grove Independent School District’s Board of Trustees approved the 2018-19 proposed budget and tax rate Tuesday night before going into a lengthy closed session.

The board went into closed session at 6:08 p.m Tuesday and remained in closed session at 9:30 p.m.

A resolution authorizing a request for proposals to acquire property for a new elementary-school site through a land exchange had not yet been voted on when the board went into closed session.

The tax rate voted on Tuesday is $1.455 per $100 property valuation and is an increase from last year’s rate of $1.44. Voters approved the increase in May. The $19.9-million bond is expected to cover an estimated $18,519,862 for the new school; $1.2 million for technology upgrades, which are primarily infrastructure; and $250,000 for increased school security.

The increase will cost about $15 annually for a home valued at $100,000.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Smith said previously the board is looking at about 10 acres of land on Christus Drive and Galleria Oaks. He said the district is considering exchanging approximately 4.2 acres of property at the current elementary site for the new land, but that they are required to issue requests for proposals before they actually do so. Smith said there may be another 10-acre site in the district that would also be suitable for the new school.

Smith said plans are for two notices to be printed in the newspaper, and after the second notice the board will look at the proposals and make a decision on the property.