Alief ISD Calls for Voter Approval Tax Rate (VATRE) Election on Nov. 5
What is a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE)?
A Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) is a local school funding election that asks voters whether or not they authorize the school district to access the maintenance and operations tax rate to create additional local funding and additional state funding to be used for specific purposes.
Unlike a school bond election, a VATRE (Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election) does not create new debt for the district. Instead, it provides funds for the district’s day-to-day operations, with the generated money staying within the community and additional funds being provided by the state on an annual basis.
Why call a VATRE?
Despite a $32.7 billion surplus, Texas’ 88th Legislature did not increase the basic student allotment nor did they provide funds to address teacher salaries.
The Texas Legislature has not increased the $6,160 basic student allotment since 2019. That’s five years of continually being asked to do more, with less despite inflation and rising costs.
Since 2019, the Consumer Price Index shows greater than a 17% increase in average inflation.
What does that mean for school districts?
Simply put, the cost of driving a bus is higher now than it was five years ago. Serving a hot lunch is more expensive than it was five years ago. The simple act of turning on the lights or water costs more today than it did five years ago. It certainly costs more to hire and retain quality staff than it did five years ago. Schools are being tasked with a heavier lift with no additional assistance.
What's the plan for the additional funds?
Alief ISD has a strong tradition of financial responsibility, consistently passing and upholding responsible budgets and maintaining a robust fund balance to prepare for future challenges. However, rather than operating from a position of financial strength, the district is now confronted with significant stressors that are putting pressure on the local school budget.
The district is now facing a situation where costs are outpacing funding and projections for the 2024-25 year anticipate a $6.2 million deficit without requesting access to additional funding. As a result, the Board of Trustees called a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election or VATRE to ask voters to consider the option of generating additional local funding, which in turn, would require the state to provide additional state funding as well.
ALIEF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT - PROPOSITION A
[ ] FOR
[ ] AGAINST
Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.0476 per $100 valuation in Alief Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 9.43 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the District for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $13.5 million.
Tax Impact
Since 2013, the Alief ISD ISD tax rate has decreased by 30 cents per $100 of taxable value. If you look historically back to the 2003-2004 school year, the total local school tax rate has decreased by more than 73 cents per $100 of taxable value.
Alief ISD’s Tax Rate History
No Data Found
6-Cent Tax Increase
The VATRE represents a six-cent tax increase, but it will result in $11.3 million more in local funding and an additional $4.1 million in state funding to address local district costs and the deficit budget.
Tax Breakdown with and without the VATRE Election:
Frequently Asked Questions
Voting Information
Early Voting
Voting Locations
During early voting, voters can vote at any polling location.
Election Day
Election Day voting is available by precinct voting location set by Harris County.
November 5, 2024
7 a.m. – 7 p.m.