Voters in the Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District head to the polls this Saturday, June 1, to determine the fate of a 13-cent property tax increase.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 181 people had cast early ballots to accept or reject a new ad valorem tax rate of $1.17 per $100 valuation.
The school’s current tax rate is $1.04 and is the maximum the school district can levy without seeking voter approval. The proposed 13-cent increase would raise taxes on a $100,000 home by $130 per year. If it is approved by voters, the higher rate would generate $165,570 in local revenue and an additional $145,228 from the state for a total of $310,798 in new money.
CISD officials say they need that money to help bridge a projected $434,960 budget deficit for 2013-2014. The school has been hit with declining revenues due to state budget cuts and declining enrollment.
The school is publishing information on page ten of this week’s Enterprise detailing the district’s tax rate history, the cuts in state funding, and the continuing drop in enrollment.
Balloting this Saturday will be at the CISD Administration Building from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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