- Pflugerville Independent School District
- VATRE 2023
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PfISD VATRE 2023
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This year, Pflugerville ISD and many other school districts are projecting a funding shortage due to legislative inaction during the 88th State Legislative Session, declining enrollment and declining attendance.
School districts are funded primarily through local property taxes, with some additional funding from the State of Texas, depending on multiple factors. The Texas Education Agency calculates a district’s state funding by estimating how much local tax revenue the district should collect based on local property values.
Due to a rapid increase in local property values, PfISD is now a "recapture" district and, as a result, is forced to send money back to the State of Texas.
The district sent $17 million of its taxpayer dollars to the State of Texas last year.
The funding loss has forced the district to make hard budgeting decisions over the past several years. We have decreased staff budgets and positions every year for the past three years. We have decreased student programs. Although we did not implement this, district officials have contemplated closing campuses and consolidating campuses to save on operations expenses. We have also looked at implementing student fees for extra-curricular activities. These are not actions the district administration or Board of Trustees wanted to do. But even with these budget cuts, the funding gaps left by our State Legislature have left us with a $2.9 budget deficit for 2023-2024.
For these reasons, the PfISD Board of Trustees has unanimously approved calling for a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) on November 7.
Approval of the VATRE will provide:
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Additional $10.7 million in funding
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Higher pay for ALL Pflugerville ISD teachers and staff
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A decrease in the school tax rate AND a decrease in property owners' tax bill.*
* Pending simultaneous approval of SB 2, also on the November ballot. SB 2 proposes changing the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. -
VATRE Impact
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Salary Increases
Up to an additional 3% general pay increase for ALL staff ($6,413,496)
Budget Outcome
$1,323,143 surplus instead of $2,941,088 deficit
Tax Rate
Current PfISD Tax Rate:
$1.2646PfISD Tax Rate with VATRE:
$1.1092PfISD Tax Rate without VATRE:
$1.0392Regardless of whether the VATRE passes, PfISD Taxpayers will have a lower tax rate.
If approved, the average PfISD taxpayer's tax bill will decrease by $650/year. If not approved, the average PfISD taxpayer's tax bill will decrease by $831/year.
That's a difference of $15/month to taxpayers and will provide $10.7M in funding for your school district.
Election Postings
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Election Results - Travis County
Election Result - VATRE approved
- Total Number of Votes Cast: 12,305
- Total Number of Votes Cast For: 7,733
- Total Number of Votes Cast Against: 4,572
- Total number of votes cast by personal appearance on Election day: 6,643
- Total number of votes cast by personal appearance or mail during the early voting period: 5,662
- Total number of counted provisional ballots cast:
- Total number of uncounted provisional ballots cast:
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Election Results - Williamson County
Election Result - VATRE approved (however measure failed in Williamson County)
- Total Number of Votes Cast: 10
- Total Number of Votes Cast For: 4
- Total Number of Votes Cast Against: 6
- Total number of votes cast by personal appearance on Election day: 7
- Total number of votes cast by personal appearance or mail during the early voting period: 3
- Total number of counted provisional ballots cast: 0
- Total number of uncounted provisional ballots cast: 0
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Notice of Election
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Proposition Language
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Sample Ballots
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Election Order
What is a VATRE?
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does the VATRE affect Homeowners over the age of 65?
Homeowners aged 65 and over are not impacted by the proposed Pflugerville ISD VATRE if they have filed for and received an Over 65 Homestead Exemption through your local appraisal district.
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How does a VATRE work?
This year, the Texas Education Agency will decrease Pflugerville ISD's school tax rate on the Maintenance and Operations side by 18.54 pennies. This reduces funds for daily school operations, including staff pay and school safety.
Additionally, the PfISD Board approved a decrease on the Interest and Sinking side of the tax rate, which funds bond projects.
The Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) allows voters to choose whether or not to put 7 of those pennies back into the M&O budget. If approved, your school tax rate decreases, your tax bill decreases*, AND $10.7 million of funding is generated for Pflugerville ISD. These funds will be used primarily for staff pay raises and day-to-day costs.
* Pending simultaneous approval of SB 2, also on the November ballot.
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How is a VATRE different than a bond?
Bonds elections and VATREs are held for different reasons and affect different aspects of a school district's budget.
Bond Elections:
- Are for building new school buildings.
- Affect the school district's Interest & Sinking budget.
- Cannot be used for staff pay or other day-to-day operating expenses.
- Adds to a school district's debt.
Voter-Approval Tax Rate Elections:
- Are for adjusting a school district's tax rate.
- Affect the school district's Maintenance & Operations budget.
- VATRE funds CAN be used for staff pay and day-to-day operating expenses.
- Does not add to a school district's debt.
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Why is PfISD calling for a VATRE after passing a bond and a VATRE in 2022?
The November 2022 bond will provide district-wide safety and security upgrades, additions and renovations at multiple campuses, including elementary, middle, and high school campuses, as well as student and staff devices.
The VATRE's purpose is not to build new school buildings. The VATRE will not add to the school district's debt.
The VATRE will generate more funds for the school district's Maintenance & Operations budget and will be utilized primarily to provide all PfISD employees with a pay increase.
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What will the Ballot say?
Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.1092 per $100 valuation in Pflugerville Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of -5.55 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the District for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional -$12,140,454.
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How will VATRE-generated funds be used?
The VATRE will generate more funds for the school district's Maintenance & Operations budget and will be utilized primarily to provide all PfISD employees with a pay increase.
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What happens if the VATRE is not approved?
If the VATRE is not approved:
- Staff will not receive additional pay increase.
- Pflugerville ISD remains in a budget deficit.
- Your tax rate decreases from $1.2646 to $1.0392, instead of $1.1092.
Regardless of whether the VATRE passes or fails, PfISD Taxpayers will have a lower school tax rate.
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How can a decrease in the tax rate generate $10.7M?
The recent increase in taxpayers, property, and property values in PfISD has positioned us to be able to decrease the tax rate while still generating additional funds.
The Texas Education Agency rewards communities who invest in their school district by doubling the funds that taxpayers invest.
$10.7M Funding Breakdown:
- $18.3M of the funds will be generated by taxpayers.
- $7.6M of the funds will be given back to the State.
If voters do not approve the VATRE, Pflugerville ISD will NOT receive the $18.3M from taxpayers and will not send the additional $7.6M back to the state.
PfISD Tax History (Approval of 2023 VATRE)
