Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees approves Tax Rate Increase
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017
The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees approved to increase the District’s 2016-2017 ad valorem property tax rate by 2.5 cents from $1.15543 to $1.18043 per $100 valuation at a special meeting held on Friday, April 7, 2017, at 12 Noon, triggering a tax rate ratification election to be held on May 27, 2017.
According to Section 28.08 of the Texas Tax Code, the rollback tax rate for public school districts is $1.12972 per $100 property valuation. Thus, any tax rate approved higher than the $1.12972 per $100 property valuation requires a tax rollback election, also known as a tax ratification election, by the school district taxpayers to determine whether to approve or disapprove the proposed higher tax rate such as the $1.18043 approved by the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 7, 2017.
The increased EPISD tax rate of $1.18043 per $100 property valuation will cost the median local taxpayer the sum of an additional $18.76 per year, averaging $1.56 per month, announced Ismael Mijares, Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Business of the Eagle Pass Independent School District. The increased tax rate of $1.18043 per $100 valuation will be used as follows: $1.17005 for Maintenance and Operations and $0.01038 for Interest and Sinking Fund.
The EPISD tax rate increase comes at a moment when Maverick County taxpayers received the highest ad valorem property tax appraisals increase by the Maverick County Appraisal District in 2016, raising many objections and concerns from taxpayers. The higher ad valorem property tax appraisals by the Maverick County Appraisal District in 2016 provided increased tax revenues to all local tax-collecting governmental entities such as the Eagle Pass Independent School District, City of Eagle Pass, County of Maverick, and the Maverick County Hospital District. Any tax rate increase results in a double tax rate increase for Maverick County taxpayers because they now have to pay higher taxes due to the increased ad valorem property appraisals and the new tax rate increase. However, property owners 65 years or older will not be charged the increased tax rate as their taxes are frozen at age 65.
Some Maverick County taxpayers have complained to local governmental tax entities concerning the unfairness of this double tax whammy and having to pay significantly higher ad valorem property taxes.
According to Wikipedia, the median income per household in Maverick County is $21,232 and $23,614 per family. A total of 34.80 percent (1 out of 3 persons) of the Maverick County population earn below the federal poverty guideline.
In an interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal, EPISD Superintendent Gilberto Gonzalez and Deputy Superintendent for Business and Finance Ismael Mijares stated that the reason the school board is asking for this slight two and one-half cents tax rate increase is to allow the EPISD to qualify for State education grant funds in the amount of $5,725,862 (Million) at a cost of only $411,232, totaling $6,137,094 (Million) in new education funds for the EPISD and its students. Both Gonzalez and Mijares noted that this is a great opportunity for Maverick County taxpayers to receive $5,725,862 (Million) of Texas education grant funds while only having to pay $411,232 raised by the slight two and one-half cents tax rate increase. Mijares stated that “EPISD taxpayers will only pay seven (7%) percent while the State of Texas will grant EPISD ninety-three (93%) percent of the monies. Once taxpayers approve this slight tax increase on May 27, 2017, EPISD and taxpayers will receive this 93% funding from the State of Texas on an annual basis, forever.” Mijares added that this State education funding program is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Maverick County taxpayers and students.
EPISD Superintendent Gonzalez noted that the school district may be spent for the purpose of maintenance and operation of the District such as, but not limited to, implementation of the Middle School Concept, the Five Year Facility Plan, building improvements, student programs, campus and departmental needs, employee salaries and benefits, expenditures to purchase new vehicles, furniture and equipment, and day to day operations of the District. The EPISD seeks to implement the Middle School Concept that will make Eagle Pass Junior High, Memorial Junior High, and remodel the Old Eagle Pass High School on Del Rio Blvd. into a new Middle School. All Middle Schools will include sixth, seventh, and eighth graders within the EPISD. Gonzalez added that the District’s Five Year Plan includes replacing new Roofs on all school campuses and other maintenance and improvement projects. All of these projects may be funded by the extra $6,137,094 (Million) that the EPISD will receive from both the State of Texas and taxpayers; however, the State of Texas will pay 93% of it ($5,725,862) while the District taxpayers will pay for only seven percent ($411,232). If the EPISD and its taxpayers do not approve the slight two and one-half cents tax rate increase at the May 27th election, other Texas school districts will receive these funds instead of Eagle Pass students.
As a result to the new EPISD tax rate of $1.18043 per $100 valuation, a tax rollback or ratification election will be required to be held on May 27, 2017 allowing Maverick County taxpayers an opportunity to approve or disapprove the increased tax rate set by the EPISD Board of Trustees on April 7th. Early voting will commence on May 10th and run through May 23rd from 8 A.M.-5 P.M. with a special extended hours Election Day on Saturday, May 20th, from 7 A.M.-7 P.M. at the City of Eagle Pass Multi-Purpose Center. Regular Election Day will be held on Saturday, May 27th from 7 A.M.-7 P.M. at designated polling places.
The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees is composed of Lupita Fuentes, President; Hilda P. Martinez, Vice-President; Dr. Hector Alvarez, Secretary; Glenna Purcell, Trustee; Rudolph “Rudy” Bowles, Trustee; Jorge Barrera, Trustee; and Christopher Hiller, Trustee.
