The tax rate for Judson ISD was approved during the board of trustees meeting on September 19.
What you need to know
District staff said the tax rate for the 2024-25 fiscal year will remain the same as last year, at $1.0346 per $100 of value.
While the tax rate remains unchanged from last year, residents may face an increase in taxes due to rising property valuations.
For a home valued at $300,000 that does not qualify for property tax exemption, the school district would receive approximately $3,103 annually.
The tax rate will support the budget, which passed in June with a deficit of nearly $24 million after using disaster fund money to cover expenses.
These pennies cover a portion of the interest and principal rate, which is defined by the Texas Education Agency as the interest rate used to pay off the debt used to finance a district’s facilities.
What they say
Trustee Monica Ryan voted against the rate, citing concerns, among others, that using disaster pennies could lead to delays in debt repayment because the pennies lower the I&S rate.
“I don’t see any other district in the state of Texas doing this, so it makes me really uncomfortable that other school districts that could really use some money are choosing not to do this,” Ryan said.
Superintendent Milton “Rob” Fields III said the district will continue to be able to make the required minimum payments.
“We are well on our way to finishing the game the way we started,” Fields said.
Trustee Jose Macias said he believes the district has found creative ways to reduce budget deficits and the board will continue to look for budget savings opportunities throughout the school year.
“I’m going to be very sensitive to cuts or to us spending too much,” Macias said. “If students are succeeding and we’re providing services, then we’re doing our job.”
You can view the full discussion on the tax rate here.
