School tax rate ratified by vote

 School funding in the Clarendon Consolidated Independent School District got a boost Saturday, June 1, when voters ratified a 13-cent property tax increase by a wide margin.

More than 78 percent of those participating in the district’s tax ratification election approved of the higher rate, passing the increase by a margin of 234-65.

Early voters provided the biggest boost to the tax, voting in favor of the measure, 169-18. Election Day voting was closer with the tax still meeting approval, 65-47.

Superintendent Monty Hysinger said the district was pleased with the outcome and said the Board of Trustees felt the tax increase was a necessary step in the face of declining enrollment and cuts in state funding.

Board President Wayne Hardin said trustees would be sure to spend the revenue well.

“We certainly appreciate the vote of the people,” Hardin said. “Now it is up to us to be good stewards of that money. We still have some hard decisions to make, but we will use the money wisely.”

The new tax rate of $1.17 per $100 valuation is expected to 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 said they needed 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.

In Austin, Hysinger said the Legislature has restored some of the money that it cut from public schools two years ago, but at press time, Gov. Rick Perry had not signed that into law.

Hysinger said he expects schools will see some lost revenue restored, and he anticipates being between $50,000 and $100,000 in the black in the next fiscal year.