Special to El Rrun-Rrun
A unanimous board of the Brownsville Independent School District approved a resolution to hold a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) on November 7 to increase the district's Maintenance and Operations tax rate to make up for state legislature-mandated decreases.
During Monday's special meeting, an obviously confused board pressed the BISD board counsel attorneys to explain why the ballot item for the election states that voters are being asked to vote for a tax rate increase while they claim that the tax rate actually decreased from $1.030964 per $100 valuation for the year 2022-2023 to $1.20869 per $100 valuation for FY 2023-2024. 
"It's not an increase in property taxes since the rate actually went down," board counsel Kevin O'Hanlon replied. "Net-net is is the biggest school tax decrease and actually lowers property taxes. I can't see why anyone would vote against it."
"It's an increase, but it's really a decrease," said board member Frank Ortiz. "That's how we're actually going to have to go out there and sell it."
The attorneys said that although property valuations in the district rose by $1 billion, the tax rate adopted will collect $10.4 million less in district revenue, the state will make up the difference by the state in compression funding.
"This modest increase in the tax rate is artificial," O'Hanlon told the board. "The (applicable state) statutes are not consistent. It's confusing because the two statutes were passed at different times. But the Secretary of State requires us to use this language on the ballot."
The state also requires that in order for the district to increase it's M & O to compensate it's employees, it must state that it is an increase for that section, different than the debt service rate. The current rate includes a Maintenance and Operations of $1.05680 which – if voters approve of it in November – will increase revenue on an M&O tax rate of $0.78920 on the new valuations and a Debt Service tax rate of $0.241764.
Another issue clouding the school districts' tax rate will be the increase of the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000, something that the district has not calculated yet.
"The legislature gives us the formulas, but we cannot comment on the intent," he said.
So as it stands, the BISD board approved paying the Cameron County Elections office $207,400 to hold the election in 43 county voting precincts and proposes to open 20 polling locations election day for a vote on the rate rate.
It will be up to the board members to try to translate the complexities of the vote to district residents and convince them to approve the increase. It was evident that the confusing nature of the upcoming election perplexed the members since even board member Eddie Garcia, who has announced his candidacy for Cameron County Tax-Assessor Collector, had little to say in the discussion preceding the vote.
25 comments:
THE RESIDENTS OF BROWNSVILLE IS GOING TO FIGHT BISD, CITY AND COUNTY.
WE ARE NOT HAVING ANOTHER LUCIOS EDDIE TWO SHITS, AGAIN!!!
NO. YOUR FUCKIN FAULT FOR LIVING BEYOND YOUR MEANS.
CUT YOUR BUDGET 20% AND DUMP THE SIDE CHICK, YOU WILL BE FINE 😂
AND SHOW ME HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE BANK
This is not complex although you did you best to make BISD look bad. Independent of the so called tax increase because of the new Homestead Exemption some people will pay zero property tax. That is the story - Abbott pushed through the higher Homestead exemption so he would look good knowing full well all taxing entities would have to raise local rates to make up for the loss of revenue from the Homestead exemption increase. All they are doing is breaking even by raising the revenue lost by the higher Homestead exemption. People's whose homes are worth $100,000 or less will now pay zero property taxes. Republicans all over the state should be mad at Abbott for forcing all local entities to raise taxes to just break even. Your taxes are not going up, this just insures they remain the same after the new Homestead Exemption goes into effect.
Eddie Garcia doesn't know shit about taxes. Eddie Garcia has zero experience and even less knowledge about anything regarding tax issues. What Eddie does know is to listen to his sister District Judge Gaby Garcia .
Don't be fooled by District Judge Gaby Garica and do NOT vote for her INEXPERIENCED brother Eddie Garcia.
take back the 1000 you stupid people gave to EVERYBODY. DO IT NOW...
Y LINDA LOU NO HABLE NADA NADA Y NADA.... WE LOSSE AGAIN....
PINCHE SUERTE AY DIOSITO AYUDANOS, PERO CUANDO??????
Finally our so-called supt is doing something. I wonder if he will walk the neighborhoods like Dr. Zendejas did when she had the TRE passed for the first time to help improve our campuses. He sits behind the desk and that won't work if you plan to convince the people that teachers are deserving of this payraise. If you have kids in school, you should be thankful for the teachers who put up with your spoiled rotten kids on a daily bases. It is good that most of the kids are good and earnest about learning, but the few that are not should be sent to the Alternative Center and handled there.
Let the teachers have complete autonomy in the use of the curriculum and I bet you will also see an increase in state test scores.
We need a supt that moves his mind and not just his mouth. What happened to his assistants? Where are they now? Edinburg?
Y el mamon that insults everybody here including the blog owner - MAMANDO como siempre low income RATA.
Fuck You BISD Board members
Raise taxes and fatten you wallets
"Same old singer and the same old song" Mick Jagger/Keith Richards
EDDIE GARCIA 2024 EDDIE GARCIA 2024
EDDIE GARCIA 2024 EDDIE GARCIA 2024
EDDIE GARCIA 2024 EDDIE GARCIA 2024
Eddie- tax assessor
Denise- county clerk
Daniela- county commissioner
NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE
sorry, gabby. you will not control this county.
Eddie $ Garcia $ 2024 $ Eddie $ Garcia 2024
Eddie $ Garcia $2024 $ Eddie $ Garcia $2024
Eddie G.$erved for FREE at BI$D, now it'$ time for a FEE at the county'$ expen$e !
Vote for Eddie G. $$$$$$$$$
I love this.
It is a decrease but the Residents of Cameron County/Brownsville will vote for an increase.
LOL
It is like a Christmas present outside but inside it is a Halloween present.
It is like a smile and a hug to your suegra but inside your brain you are thinking que suegra tan mala.
LOL
Eddie Garcia,Daniela Lopez,Denise Garza and Dr Gutierrez..El cuarteto mas rata que ha tenido BISD HASTA HOY VAN A QUEBRAR AL BISD
The county appraiser raised out property value almost double the value and the ass holes in bisd want to raise the property rates plus get the money from the state. The idiot teachers are always crying for more pay because they don't qualify for food stamps but driver over price cars to work? I will tell all my friends to vote NO.
I don't buy this b******* from BISD they pick up her values three to four hundred percent and then they give us a $100,000 Homestead when are actually our homes or not worth what they are saying I'm tired of this b******* here in Cameron County and our governor people go out and vote I don't believe in raising taxes the superintendent and the administration are making too much money and teachers are the one doing all the work but we are so many they cannot give us a pay raise. Look at our maintenance and facility Department don't know what they're doing projects started none are finished the intercoms they installed worthless what do they do move Dr Cantu worthless b**** they should have put her as principal or assistant principal guarantee she'll leave enough is enough
LETS GIVE THEM AN ARTIFICAL CHECK. PENDEJOS MAMONS GET THE 1000 DOLLARS BACK...
Linda Lou just got elected. She needs to get to know her section of the community.
I am so relieved that Tetas is gone. Hopefully she won't be a recurring nightmare.
I listened to the entire BISD meeting it seems that nobody knows how the process works. If it's not a tax increase why does the ballot that they all approved for November's election say that we the voters will vote for a tax increase.? If it's not a tax increase, why vote to place it on the ballot in the first place for November. Something smells funny. Since Eddie is running for tax Assessor collector he should know the difference between tax increase and no tax increase.He has voted for tax increases for the forth time at BISD.The Bisd meeting show that he did not say anything on this issue. Why? Can we the taxpayers afford to have him as the tax Assessor collector. I think not. It was embarrassing to see him not defend the taxpayers of this district.
Teachers need at least 5% raise not a 2% raise!
Half or more of the kids going to school in BISD are coming from Matamoros. Those parents are NOT paying taxes of any kind. He dicho!
This is when "Rich men north of Richmond" hits
Pura pinché cuacha en la frontera!!
Whoever wrote this article it's obvious that writer wants to confuse its audience. It doesn't take a rocket scientist that there's no increase. If you read the tre it states increased followed by MINUS, which that's what gonna be. Mr Garcia seemed to understand and did not want to confuse others. He did emphasize that 100% was going to employee raises. Writer is obviously with Mr Yzaguirre. This is an political.
Definitely article wants to make BISD look bad
Make it simple. BISD talk to the State of Texas and then you get the money you want.
BISD talk to the City of Brownsville and get the money you need.
DO NOT INVOLVE THE RESIDENTS OF BROWNSVILLE....you know them...most of them do not have children in public schools, many do not approve of teachers, and many do not see EDUCATION as an EQUALIZER.....
If you reduce all the illegal students at BISD they will have to reduce and FIRE 50% of all the teachers and close half the school buildings and reduce all buses traveling to the border bridges. I see half of all cars parked at all schools waiting for students, with mexican plates and if you follow them they go straight to matamoros and that's in all the local schools here, except for idea and other private schools. They are smart and don't allow students from mexico unless they PAY... Y AQUI QUE NADA Y LINDA LOU NADA
AND THEY WANT TO TAX US MORE, ARE THEY NUTS, CRAZY, INSANE OR JUST PLAIN STUPID AND INCOMPETENT?
August 23, 2023 at 2:56 PM
all of the above nuts, crazy, insane, stupid and incompetent
A surcharge of 25 centavos on every dollar spent at HEB, Lopez, walnada and all local grandma stores will be charged to give to the matamoscas citizens to come here and buy whatever they want. Its in the ballor for this coming weekend. we are safe cause nobosy here votes. it will not pass....
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