Even with property values rising and many taxpayers likely to pay more with the same rates, the Dallas Independent School District is considering a property tax rate hike.
District officials are discussing a November referendum for a 13-cent tax rate hike. It would increase the overall Dallas ISD property tax rate from $1.28 to $1.41 per $100 value. The owner of the district average $157,000 home would pay $205 more a year.
The extra money would be used for three programs school officials say they cannot afford without the rate increase.
"We're asking our Dallas ISD property owners to make an investment. I think it's an investment that's going to pay off well as we go down the road," said Dallas ISD Board President Lew Blackburn.
When school board members first heard about the plan from Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, Blackburn said board members wanted the money earmarked for specific programs with benchmarks to grade performance. Blackburn said a tax rollback promise will be included if the programs fail.
"And if we don't reach those benchmarks, then we say to the public, 'It was a bad idea. We're going to give the money back to you,'" Blackburn said.
The programs are:
- Expanded full day Pre-K for four year olds to get kids learning younger.
- Expanded college credit and career programs in high schools to better prepare graduates for college and jobs.
- Performance-based pay incentives to get the best teachers in the toughest schools.
Two frequent critics of the Dallas Independent School District voiced support for the plan Friday.
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Alliance AFT Teachers Union President Rena Honea said Dallas schools are underfunded and need more money, but she is still polling members to determine their support for this specific plan.
"We just have needs within our district that have not been addressed because of the funding," she said. "If we want the best education for our students, we have to be willing to provide that."
Former teacher Bill Betzen agreed the district needs more money and he supports this plan to spend it.
"I think this is wonderful," Betzen said. "This is a very minor adjustment to the tax rate. It will put us in line with most suburban schools that are already ahead of us. Our students will benefit and ultimately we will benefit."
Betzen said returning Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has made good progress in boosting staff morale and student achievement in his first full year back on the job.
"There are times we've stumbled as a district, but I think this is one time we are going in the right direction," Betzen said.
The school board has not yet approved the plan, but Blackburn said members expect to receive more details soon, in time to post the tax increase for a November referendum.
