|
Election includes PISD tax ratification
By Mary Madewell
Published November 1, 2009
Paris Independent School District voters will be asked to vote on a $1.455 per $100 valuation tax rate at a rollback election Tuesday.
But tax statements already mailed by the Lamar County Appraisal District reveal a $1.325 per $100 valuation tax rate for this year, a 12-cent decrease from 2008 taxes.
“It’s a complex and complicated issue, but we are here to present information in the most simplified way we possibly can,” PISD Board President Dave Eisele told Paris City Council members at a Oct. 28 meeting, one of several presentations he and Superintendent Paul Trull have made during the past month.
“The tax rate is going down and if it (rollback election) passes $2.35 million will be brought to Paris,” Eisele said. “If it fails, PISD will not get the money and the tax rate will be the same.”
The $1.325 rate increases the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate 13 cents to $1.17 per $100 valuation, the state maximum. Any maintenance tax rate above $1.04 per $100 valuation must be approved by voters.
If the proposed tax rate passes, along with a 28.5 cent interest and sinking rate, school trustees have agreed to lower the interest and sinking rate 13 cents to offset the maintenance and operations increase, thus the matching tax rates whether the election passes or fails.
Several hundred districts across the state have held similar elections, including Prairiland in 2008 when voters turned down the increase. Statewide, however, districts that accompany the maintenance and operations increase with an overall tax rate decrease have been successful.
At the close of early voting Friday, 397 early ballots had been cast for Tuesday’s election, according to early voting official Jane Golden, secretary at the PISD administration building.
Share |
Save |
Mail |
Print |
Letter
|
|
 |
|
|
