Students raising their hand during a Library session at Rough Hollow Elementary School library on March 21, 2024. School districts across Texas and U.S. are facing growing efforts to remove books from their libraries. Lake Travis school board has voted to remove three books from libraries this school year. Patricia Lim/KUT News
Voters in the Austin area have decisively rejected tax rate increase measures proposed by three school districts—Hays, Coupland, and Blanco—during the recent elections held on March 5, 2024. While the Liberty Hill Independent School District secured funding through the approval of Proposition A, the outcomes in the other districts highlight significant challenges ahead for their educational funding.
Hays Consolidated Independent School District
In Hays CISD, approximately 61% of voters opposed Proposition A, which aimed for a 12 cent property tax rate increase. This measure would have provided around $26 million to bolster the district’s dwindling general fund balance. Following the rejection, school officials are now faced with tough decisions regarding staff layoffs and program cuts to balance their budget.
Eric Wright, Superintendent of Hays CISD, expressed his concerns in a letter to parents and staff, stating, “With inflation-eroded spending power and no significant per-student state funding increase since 2019, we are going to have to make very difficult decisions. These will be painful, and they will impact the services we offer.” Wright assured stakeholders that the district would strive to minimize the impact of budget cuts on core educational services. More details on the potential cuts are expected in the spring.
Coupland Independent School District
Similarly, Coupland ISD faced a setback as voters rejected their Proposition A, which sought a 3 cent increase in the property tax rate. About 56% of voters opposed this measure, which would have generated an additional $240,000 in tax revenue. The funds were intended to cover salary and healthcare costs for the upcoming year and to assist in financing the new middle school campus.
This marks the second consecutive year that Coupland voters declined to approve a proposed tax rate increase, leaving school officials to reconsider their fiscal strategies in the wake of ongoing funding challenges.
Blanco Independent School District
In Blanco, residents in Blanco, Hays, and Kendall counties also rejected Proposition A, with nearly 53% voting against the proposed 2 cent tax increase. This measure would have provided nearly $500,000 in additional revenue, which was earmarked for maintaining essential student programs, including career and technical education, advanced placement, dual credit classes, and smaller class sizes.
The rejection of these tax increases across the three districts signals a challenging landscape for local education funding. With budgets already strained, school officials will need to explore alternative funding sources and strategies to ensure that they can continue to provide quality education to their students.
As these districts navigate the implications of the election results, the focus remains on how to sustain educational programs and support for the community’s youth amidst dwindling resources.
