A Fort Worth-area school district’s referendum to increase the tax rate on November 5 failed, resulting in the district having to tweak its plan to address its deficit.
Northwest ISD will now levy a new tax rate lower than they hoped for the 2024-2025 school year.
Northwest ISD residents voted down a proposed tax rate increase of 3 cents to cover the district’s deficit, with 55.8% of district voters opposing the measure, reported KERA News.
“Northwest ISD will now analyze increased class sizes as well as additional operations for further potential changes,” the district stated, per KERA. “Each potential change will be balanced as carefully as possible to maintain the high quality of instructional programs and services that families expect of Northwest ISD.”
School officials will now look to state lawmakers to provide more funding for public schools.
“School districts are facing unprecedented choices that have a direct impact on the classroom, and it’s time for our state leaders to step up and do what’s right for the 5.5 million children in Texas public schools,” Superintendent Mark Foust said, per KERA.
As reported by The Dallas Express, the proposed rate received backlash from residents.
“Imagine living in an ISD with close to $2 billion dollars in bond debt and then being asked to support a VATRE to further increase your taxes. NISD can’t figure out how to tighten their belts and find $15.8 million dollars to fund student programs and teacher salaries. NISD regularly uses taxpayer money and ISD staff to create advocacy campaigns to increase taxes,” Ruth Ray posted on Facebook along with a photo of the Northwest ISD VATRE statement.