Bryan ISD school board discusses the possibility of asking voters this November to increase the property tax rate

This podcast contains comments from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.The year after Bryan ISD school board members received voter approval for a $397 million dollar bond package, the board hears a presentation that could lead to voters being asked this November to approve a two cent increase in the property tax rate for maintenance and operations.BISD's chief financial officer Norma Friddle explained what state law calls a voter approved tax rate election (also known as VATRE) at the board's March 23rd meeting as part of a monthly presentation about developing the budget for the 2026-2027 school year.Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the March 23, 2026 Bryan ISD school board meeting.State law allows school districts to ask voters to increase the property tax rate by up to eight cents without returning some of the money to the state. Bryan ISD has used six of the eight cents.The BISD board has until August 17th to decide whether to ask voters to approve raising the tax rate by the remaining two cents allowed by state law. That would generate $5.5 million dollars for BISD.For the owner of a $350,000 dollar home, after subtracting the homestead exemption of $140,000, the property tax increase on a home with a taxable value of $210,000 would be $42 dollars a year.Friddle and some board members brought up the funding shortfall that remains after state lawmakers last year increased the basic allotment by $55 per student. Because the amount had not been changed since 2019, board members were told the increase should have been $1,300 per student.Board members were also told that unfunded mandates still exist, and costs are rising faster than funding, particularly with covering employee medical expenses.Nothing was said about where Bryan ISD would spend VATRE money if board members decide to call an election and if the proposition passed.Board members were told VATRE money could be spent on salaries, contracted services, utilities, programs, and other operating expenses.