With a $218.1 million bond package partially approved in May and an increase in property values, Willis ISD residents will see a slight bump in taxes as the district approved its 2024-25 budget of $86.3 million.
The budget also includes raises for staff and funding for new positions.Â
As the district nears 10,000 enrolled students, it has prepared for the growth in the area with a new an expansion of Willis High School, parking lot improvements and a new transportation center after voters approved a portion of the district’s May bond package.
While the bond was partially approved by voters, it came with an increase of the debt service tax rate, said Garrett Matej, assistant superintendent of the district’s business and finance department.Â
The district’s approved tax rate of $1.0349 per $100 property valuation is a 3½ cent increase from the district’s previous rate. During the public hearing on Aug. 19 for the district’s 2024-25 fiscal year budget and tax rate, a statement in the PowerPoint presentation read “this tax rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate.”
Two components of tax rate
Every school district has two components that make up its tax rate — the maintenance and operations tax rate and the interest and sinking tax rate. The maintenance and operations tax rate covers general expenses such as salaries and instructional costs, while the interest and sinking rate is used to pay off debt for district facilities.Â
The interest and sinking tax rate saw an increase at the district due to the May bond package, while there was a decrease from the maintenance and operations rate, according to the district’s presentation. However, the increase in property values is the reason as to why the district was required to state that the new tax rate would bring more taxes for maintenance and operations.Â
And with an increase in property vales comes the potential for less funding from the state due to officials’ belief that local property taxes will cover a larger portion of Texas districts’ budgets.Â
Budget includes raises and new positions
Despite a slight increase in the district’s tax rate, officials had projected early on that they would be operating under a balanced budget. During the August meeting, board members approved the 2024-25 budget of $86.3 million. This included a compensation package the board approved in April for teachers and staff.Â
During a meeting in April, board members approved including a $1,500 raise for teachers, counselors, librarians and registered nurses for the current school year. Other staff received a 3% raise to their current salary or hourly pay.
“Last year was tough,” Matej said during the April meeting, in reference to recruiting and retaining, stating excitement over the ability to give raises to staff.
The budget also includes $3 million for new positions, majority in classrooms and special education. These positions include regular and bilingual teachers, specialists and a district athletic coordinator.Â
More students enrolling at Willis ISD
For the 2024-25 school year, the district has estimated a total of 9,157 students enrolled, said Superintendent Kimberly James.Â
“We are up 378 students from last year,” James said during the August meeting. “I’m just real proud of the work that our team is doing and hustling to get those students in classrooms and getting teachers hired.”
Board members also approved to update the district’s demographic study as it prepares to open two new campuses in 2025 and 2026. Both campuses, an elementary and middle school, were part of the district’s $143 million bond package that gained partial approval from voters in 2022.
A part of that 2022 bond package was a new stadium and an aquatic center, which did not get approved by voters. The district attempted to get approval from voters in May 2024 to build a stadium that would replace the nearly 50-year-old Yates Stadium and build a facility for the district’s swimming team. However, the district was only able to get approval for a portion of its $218 million bond package.
Board members are now asking voters for a third time to approve a $115.4 million bond package in November, including the new stadium and concession stand, an aquatic center and a student activity center that was included in the May 2024 bond.Â
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