A proposal to improve safety at Hays CISD elementary schools could force the district to increase its ad valorem rate to generate enough revenue.
The item was part of a presentation on the district’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 budget, which could have a $6 million deficit, if approved by the board of trustees. Officials said increasing the tax rate has not yet been included in the preliminary budget and is only a point of discussion at this time.
The safety proposal, presented to the board during a budget workshop April 27, would require a tax ratification election to move the maintenance and operations (M&O) rate from $1.04 to $1.06. An election would be necessary, as Hays CISD has reached an M&O rate of $1.04 per $100 valuation, which is the maximum amount districts can tax per state law. If approved, the district’s overall ad valorem rate would increase to $1.56 per $100 valuation.
