By a 5-2 vote Monday, the Brownsville Independent School District Board of Trustees adopted a property tax rate of $1.208690 per $100 valuation for the 2022-2023 school year.
The rate was approved at a special-called board meeting and came after the board delayed action at its Sept. 13 meeting. The rate includes a Maintenance and Operations tax rate of $1.05680 and Debt Service tax rate of $0.15189.
Board members Eddie Garcia, Daniella Lopez-Valdez, Denise Garza, Prisci Roca Tipton and Drue Brown voted in favor of the new tax rate, Trustees Minerva Pena and Jessica Gonzalez voted against.
Calculating taxes when including a $40,000 homestead exemption, the district said the rate would result in $156 less taxes on a home valued at $100,000, compared to 2021-2022 taxes.
Last session, the Texas Legislature increased the homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000, meaning that homeowners who claim the exemption can have the value of their primary residence reduced by $40,000, in the case of a $100,000 home from $100,000 to $60,000, resulting in taxes of $156 less compared to 2021 taxes.
However, taxpayers can only claim one homestead exemption, on their primary residence.
The tax rate supports district initiatives, provides instructional resources, and funds salary increases for all staff with the fair market value, the district said.
The district’s fiscal year is from July 1 to June 30, and the budget is based on estimated tax values. The Cameron County Appraisal District sets official tax values in late September.
By law, the tax rate must be set by Sept. 30 so that the district meets its budget obligations and continues to make payments on bonded debt incurred by previous boards and approved by voters, Superintendent Rene Gutierrez said at the meeting.
Whether Texas funds public schools based on enrollment or average daily attendance is expected to be a major topic for the 2023 Texas Legislature, district officials said at the meeting.
