Voters reject majority of school district bonds, tax rate increases

Election Day not only decided who will fill political seats in government, but also whether several school district bonds and tax rate elections passed.

The answer from voters was a resounding “no” for the majority of them that were on the ballot, with a few exceptions.

Among the school districts impacted by the widespread “no” vote on Election Day is San Antonio’s largest district, Northside Independent School District (NISD).

The district was asking its communities to approve a $0.03 tax-rate increase to fund salary raises for teachers and staff as well as reduce the district’s budget deficit.

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NISD also wanted voters to greenlight three propositions that totaled around $886 million in bond money or loans to upgrade campus safety and security measures, instructional technology, buses, and improve and renovate schools, plus replace the 50-year-old George Block Aquatic Center.

In September, KSAT asked NISD’s interim superintendent, Jessica Palomeras, what the district would have to do if the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Elections (VATRE) and propositions did not pass.

“We would have to reprioritize, take a look at our budget, and then from there we could kind of see what we move forward with,” she said.

San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) is in the same boat.

District leadership was hoping its 3.17-cent VATRE, or tax-rate increase, would pass to help generate $5.5 million in additional revenue to improve and maintain initiatives such as its Career & Technical Education programs and its dual credit and early college programs.

SAISD voters shot it down as well as its three propositions that would have secured money to buy new chillers and boilers, new buses with three-point seatbelts, a vehicle fleet for SAISD police, network infrastructure and new turf and other improvements for Alamo Stadium and Convocation Center.

Comal ISD and East Central ISD’s bonds and VATREs that were on the ballot were also defeated, along with many other school districts.

But officials with Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District (SCUCISD) are thanking its communities after the election.

According to the district’s website, unofficial results indicate voters have approved the 12-cent tax-rate increase with 51% of the votes that were cast were in favor of it.

Nixon-Smiley CISD, located about 25 miles from Gonzales, saw its VATRE approved, but the district was not asking for a tax-rate increase.

The district wanted authorization to shift or move $0.11 from the district’s interest and sinking tax rate to the district’s maintenance and operations budget to generate $1.2 million to help reduce its budget deficit and provide more money for salaries and student resources.

Although it was by a narrow margin, Seguin ISD was also successful in passing a tax rate increase.

San Antonio voters also passed Proposition A for Pre K-4 SA, approving the reauthorization of an existing ⅛-cent sales tax for 20 more years. Officials said they plan to expand infant and toddler care and increase childcare options for families working nights and weekends.

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