Texarkana ISD to discuss 2022-2023 budget, tax rate

District officials expect a decrease

TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texarkana Independent School District Board of Trustees will discuss its 2022-2023 budget and proposed tax rate during a regular meeting Wednesday morning.

To begin the open session portion of the meeting, a public hearing will be held on the budget and proposed rate. Later in the meeting, trustees will vote on those items.

Chief Financial Officer Anita Clay said while TISD will not announce an exact figure for its 2022-2023 tax rate until later this year, she expects a decrease to occur.

“The tax rate will not be changed until August or September,” Clay said. “I do expect the rate to be lower, and there is no doubt that it will be lower because of the decrease in appraised values. It will go down, but I’m just not ready to publicly declare a certain dollar amount because it could change in the next couple of months.”

Clay said the 2022-2023 budget, as presented to the board Wednesday, will include the same proposed rate as last year, and the new, decreased rate will be announced when the Texas Education Agency names a maximum compressed tax rate in August.

According to TISD’s website, its current overall tax rate is $1.3067, with a maintenance and operations rate of $1.0517 and an interest and sinking rate of $0.255.

Other Texas-side districts have discussed their tax rates for the upcoming school year, as well.

Liberty-Eylau ISD’s Board recently voted to approve a new proposed total tax rate of $1.1563 for 2022-2023, down just over 9 cents from the previous rate of $1.2501. The decrease includes the maintenance and operations rate going from $1.0501 to $0.9763 and the debt service rate falling from $0.20 to $0.18.

Pleasant Grove ISD was able to pass a $39.9 million bond this year to improve campus facilities, without increasing its rate of $1.3615.

School officials cited increased property values and the increase in homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 as contributing factors for tax rates decreasing or staying the same.

The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the TISD District Services Building, 1600 Waterall St.