By K. McStay

Herald Democrat

In three of Grayson County's regional school districts, voters headed to the polls on Saturday to vote on the tax rate for the coming year. With House Bill One in 2006, state lawmakers froze school funding at that year's level, providing extra funding to districts only if more students joined the district or if the citizens of the district voted to raise the rates. Each district's ballot would have raised taxes by 13 cents, and each district would receive additional state funding to match the 13 cents of the tax rates.

Two of the districts' tax measures failed Saturday, and one passed.

S&S Consolidated

The tax ratification election for S&S CISD did not pass. "I don't know why," Superintendent Robert Steeber said. "Bad economic times, maybe." The current economic status of the country, he said, could have played a part.

The district was focusing on putting programs in place to increase teacher pay, as well as help students, Steeber said. "We're disappointed." Construction plans will be put on hold for now, he said, though the budget for this school year is balanced. "If we can't pass the tax, it would probably be reaching to think we could pass a bond," Steeber said.

Next year, the district will need to closely examine the budget, and evaluate the district's needs. Any cuts that need to be made will be determined later.

Two hundred and twenty-three people voted for the measure, and 257 voted against.

Had the rollback passed, the tax rate would have been $1.365 per $100. On the average $115,000 home, local taxes would have increased $10.83 a month. The district would have received an additional $540,000 a year in funding, with 17 cents in state funding for each one taxpayer dollar.

Howe

The tax ratification election for Howe ISD did not pass. "We're disappointed, but also understand the economic situation right now," Superintendent Kevin Wilson said. "It's a difficult season for our voters."

Despite the frequent meetings to inform voters of the tax ratification election and its benefits and detriments, Wilson said attendance was relatively low. "Perhaps we need to look at disseminating that information better," he said.

Howe's school board will meet next week to evaluate and amend the current school year's budget, Wilson said. "We'll see what we can do to decrease expenditure," he added. The cutting of programs is a possibility, he said, and with the difficulty of working inside the confines of House Bill One, program removal is being considered. "It's going to be very difficult under the current system," Wilson explained. "We've communicated with Representative Larry Phillips our concerns and the difficult nature of working under the system. He's aware of it, and he's sympathetic to the situation, but it's a pretty monumental task to have to address."

One hundred and fifty-four people voted in favor of the measure, and 198 voted against.

Taxes in Howe would have risen to $1.46 for the 2008-2009 school year had the measure passed, down from the 2005-2006 rate of $1.77. The average Howe taxpayer would have paid $13 a month more, and the state would have given the district $2 for every $1 received.

Collinsville

The tax ratification election for Collinsville passed. "I'm excited," Superintendent Tim Wright said. "I know some of the rest haven't been so lucky."

Additional money from the tax ratification will be used to give all personnel, except administrators, a raise. "I don't get anything out of this," Wright said. "We're going to give all teachers a $2,000 raise." The remaining staff, he said, will get a three percent raise. Facilities across the district will be repaired, and the remaining money will be put into the fund balance in order to bring the amount up to the Texas Education Association recommended number.

"We just have got a community that believes in our school district and our educators," Wright said. "We've got them behind us ... it's a good thing."

One hundred and thirty-one people voted in favor of the measure, and 71 voted against, nearly two to one.

Taxes in Collinsville will now increase to $1.24 per $100 valuation, with $1.17 of that going to maintenance and operation and 7 cents to the interest and sinking fund. The average homeowner will see a $21.31 raise in taxes, and for every dollar taxpayers put in, the state contributes $1.60.