Voters in the Austin area have decisively rejected tax rate increases proposed by three local school districts, impacting funding for essential educational programs. The measures, presented during the recent election, were aimed at addressing financial shortfalls, but failed to secure the necessary voter support.
Hays Consolidated Independent School District
In the Hays Consolidated Independent School District, a proposed 12 cent property tax rate increase, known as Proposition A, was met with significant opposition. Approximately 61% of voters rejected the measure, which would have provided an estimated $26 million boost to the district’s general fund.
Superintendent Eric Wright expressed serious concerns regarding the implications of this decision in a letter to parents and staff. He indicated that the district would now be forced to consider cuts to staff and programming in order to create a balanced budget. “With inflation-eroded spending power and no significant per-student state funding increase since 2019, we are going to have to make very difficult decisions,” Wright stated. He promised to minimize the impact of these cuts on the district’s core mission and plans to release more detailed information about the budget in the coming spring.
Coupland Independent School District
Similarly, voters in Coupland also turned down Proposition A, which sought a 3 cent increase in the property tax rate. About 56% of the electorate opposed the measure, which aimed to generate an additional $240,000 in tax revenue. The proposed funds were intended to cover salary and healthcare costs for the upcoming year, as well as expenses related to the opening of a new middle school campus. This marks the second consecutive year that Coupland voters have declined to approve a tax rate increase.
Blanco Independent School District
In the Blanco Independent School District, a similar fate awaited Proposition A, which proposed a 2 cent tax increase. Voters in Blanco, Hays, and Kendall counties rejected the measure, with nearly 53% opposing it. Had it passed, the increase would have generated nearly $500,000 in additional revenue, which was earmarked for maintaining student programs, including career and technical education, advanced placement, dual credit classes, and smaller class sizes.
The outcomes of these votes reflect a growing concern among voters about tax increases, particularly in the context of current economic pressures. School officials across the districts now face tough decisions as they seek to navigate funding challenges while continuing to provide quality education.