Four School Tax Votes, Nearly $1.5 Billion in Bonds, One Metro area Under Pressure?

Across the San Antonio area, Northside ISD, San Antonio ISD, East Central ISD, and Schertz Cibolo Universal City ISD are all asking voters for more operating tax authority on November 3rd.

The household impact is not remotely the same from the districts to districts and from what voters are going to feel across the area.

Neither is the purpose of the money.

And that's where the story gets interesting, and that's where, frankly, begins.

So school taxes have two basic buckets.

Maintenance and operation money pays for the daily work, teachers, staff, classroom programs, transportation, utilities, and security, things like that, run-of-the-mill things.

Interest in sinking money pays debt on voter-approved bonds.

So we're talking about longer-term things like buildings and buses, even technology, which isn't longer-term, and major repairs.

Northside ISD is asking for a $0.03 increase in its operating rate.

So the district says that would generate roughly $45.5 million a year, $21.5 million locally, and another $24 million from the state to support salaries and reduce its deficit.

Northside estimates an added annual cost for its average taxable value home at $5.98 because taxable values in the district have recently fallen.

But at the same time, Northside voters will also see three bond propositions for campus work, security, technology, buses, and replacement in the auditorium.

The district says that those bonds would not increase its debt service rate, but we'll see.

And San Antonio ISD is asking for a 3.17 cent operating increase dollars.

So their district says that the money would go towards supporting college and career programs, CTE, a teacher pipeline, and a one-time employee supplement.

SAISD is also proposing funds for school modernization, safety, technology, and improvements.

If voters approve all four SAISD propositions, the district estimates that the average homeowner living in the district and paying taxes there would pay an additional $1.99 a month in 2026, rising to $5.76 a month by 2030.

Then there is East Central ISD.

Its operating rate would rise by 3.72 cents, but the district lowered its debt service rate by 3.71 cents.

The total rate would move by just one ten thousandth of a dollar for its average homeowner, though the district estimates that the annual difference at 13 cents.

And the final district estimates that the impact on its average homeowner at $18 a month or $216 a year.