Katy ISD Sets Tax Rate Election to Increase Teacher Pay Not to Increase Taxpayer Rates

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

August 26, 2022

By Natalie Cook Clark

Katy ISD has set a special Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election that, if passed, will increase teacher and staff pay. The District seeks to maintain the current rate, this election is to keep things the same and not increase taxes.

Vote Set for November

A Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (TRE) is scheduled for November 8, 2022. Early voting will take place October 24- November 4, 2022.

Texas law requires school districts to reduce their local M&O Tax Rate once they reach a certain level of property value growth. For Katy ISD, the state is calling for a 4.7 cent reduction to the District’s current M&O tax rate of $0.9617.

Katy ISD’s TRE asks voters to sustain this year’s M&O Tax Rate at $0.9617. If the referendum is passed, taxpayers would see no change to their current M&O tax rate.

“The Board has been discussing these funding challenges, as well as reviewing options to increase teacher and staff pay, even as we contend with budgetary constraints,” says Greg Schulte, Katy ISD Board President.

Teacher and staff pay is by the M&O tax rate. The Katy ISD Board of Trustees and the District stress that while the referendum won’t change taxpayer M&O tax rate, it will allow them to increase the pay for teachers and staff.

“All additional funds generated by the TRE would be used exclusively to increase teacher and staff pay so we can remain competitive with our neighboring districts and keep high quality teachers and staff right here, in Katy,” says Maria DiPetta, General Manager of Media Relations at Katy ISD.

At this week’s Katy ISD Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees were presented with the outcomes of an efficiency audit at their August meeting. Texas Education Code requires school districts to conduct an efficiency audit before seeking voter approval to adopt an M&O tax rate. Evidence and conclusions from the audit indicate that Katy ISD’s internal control systems are in compliance with laws and regulations.

The findings also demonstrated Katy ISD’s history of effectively using resources to improve student achievement and achieving cost savings.

“It’s a priority for our Board to ensure Katy ISD can sustain its current educator workforce and continue to recruit and retain top-tier employees,” says Schulte.

The last day to register to vote is October 11, 2022.

More information can be found online about the TRE and any voting questions.