Eagle Pass Independent School District’s Property Tax Rate Increase Election is Saturday, May 27th

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017

The Eagle Pass Independent School District’s (EPISD) property tax rate increase election, also known as a Tax Ratification Election, is going to be held this Saturday, May 27, 2017, during 7 A.M. through 7 P.M. at designated polling places throughout Maverick County.

The EPISD property tax rate increase election seeks Maverick County’s voters approval to raise the school district’s property taxes by two and a half cents (2.5 cents) per $100 property valuation for the current 2016-2017 fiscal year from $1.15543 to $1.18043.

The EPISD argument in favor of the two and half cents property tax rate increase is that it will raise $411,232 in local tax revenues while requiring the State of Texas to contribute an additional $5,725,862 to the local school district.  EPISD notes that a total of $6,137,094 educational funding will be raised for Maverick County students for this 2016-2017 fiscal year if voters approve the two and half cents property tax rate increase.

Concerned Maverick County Taxpayers in opposition to the EPISD’s property tax rate increase election contend that the local school district already has sufficient and proper funding for the current fiscal year and is seeking to raise property taxes again as a money-grabbing measure from the State of Texas.  Opponents also argue that the EPISD already has the highest ad valorem property taxes among all of the governmental tax entities in Maverick County and has indirectly raised property taxes annually through the exorbitant real property appraisals made by the Maverick County Appraisal District during last year and once again this year, which the EPISD controls the MCAD Board of Directors as three EPISD School Board members sit on that Board that annually raises property value appraisals.

Recently, Maverick County voters rejected a Maverick County $8.5 Bond Election and one taxpayer has filed a state district lawsuit against Maverick County Commissioners Court alleging that they raised the 2016 County Property Tax Rate too high and were unlawfully denied a tax roll-back signature petition.  Maverick County voters are totally frustrated and upset with local governmental entities raising their tax rates while the Maverick County Appraisal District continues rendering exceedingly high appraisal property values annually, causing taxpayers a double tax rate increase whammy.

Designated polling places for the EPISD tax rate increase election on Saturday, May 27th, are the following: Precinct 1A-San Luis Elementary; Precinct 1B-Eagle Pass Fire Station No. 2 on Second Street; Precinct 1C-Memorial Junior High; Precinct 2A-Benavides Elementary School; Precinct 2B-San Luis Elementary School; Precinct 2C-Rosita Valley Elementary School; Precinct 2D-El Indio Community Center; Precinct 3A-Glass Elementary School; Precinct 3B-Seco Mines Elementary School; Precinct 3C-Quemado Community Center; Precinct 4A-Maverick County Courthouse; Precinct 4B and 4C-Eagle Pass High School Girls Gym on Second Street; and Precinct 4D-Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary School.

All Maverick County voters are invited and encouraged to come out and vote in this important EPISD property tax rate increase election on Saturday, May 27th, from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.  Your vote is your voice.  Vote and a make a difference in the community.