Published: July 25, 2008 11:10 pm            

HISD proposes rollback election, tax rate increase

The Huntsville Independent School District board agreed on a proposed tax rate for the 2008-09 school year Friday which, if approved, would require a rollback election.

The proposed tax rate – which would include an additional 13 cents given the success of the rollback election – was set at $1.17, not including the unchanged 17 cent INS rate.

Altogether, the tax rate the board proposed was $1.34.

During their two-hour meeting Friday, the board heard from HISD Superintendent Richard Montgomery concerning the reasons the rollback election was being considered.

“We’ve lost $2,001,386 in revenue since 2006 due to a set state funding level and declining enrollment,” he said. “Plus, during that time, we’ve had more than $2 million worth of expense increases.

“If we hold this rollback election and we can increase the tax rate, we can bring in an additional $3,290,734 into the district.”

During a rollback election, the public would vote whether or not to approve a 13-cent increase to its current district tax rate.

Based on state standards, the tax rate is already set at $1.04 with an additional 17-cent INS rate which cannot be changed.

The tax rate for the 2007-08 school year was thereby set at $1.21, so the 2008-09 tax rate with the 13 cent increase would come to $1.34.

The fact that the board officially proposed the tax rate does not set it definitely.

When the board meets on Aug. 5, they will be tasked with possibly approving a budget for the 2008-09 school year, approving the proposed tax rate and, if the tax rate is then approved, setting a rollback election date.

“In order to hold the rollback election, we have to first approve the proposed tax rate, provide public notice, then let 10 days go by before we approve the tax rate,” Montgomery said Friday. “The very latest we can call for a rollback election is Aug. 5, and that’s 10 days from Saturday.

“Therefore, on Aug. 5, we’ll have to decide if and when to have that election.”

The board members present during the meeting included Karin Olson Williams, board president Riley Tilley, David Standlee, Patrick Antwi and Pamela Baggett.

Before making a decision, they discussed in detail the advantages and disadvantages of holding the rollback election.

“To me, we’re looking at a situation and calling it,” Standlee said. “I don’t think anyone’s looking forward to having to cut services, and I think the extra money is worth not having to cut positions, programs or employee pay raises.”

Williams said she would like to see the bulk of the money raised during the rollback election used to pay for an increase in teacher step raises.

“To me, what we do with the money makes a big difference on how I feel about it,” she said. “I am concerned about doing this because I’m worried most people will feel like expenses are coming at them from all sides.”

The board also considered the district’s financial future over the next few years if a rollback election were not held this year.

        

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