Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved a proposed decrease on the property tax rate for homeowners during a regular meeting on Monday, July 15.
The proposal would see the price will decrease from $1.513 per $100 valuation for 2018-19 to $1.443 per $100 valuation for the 2019-20 school year.
“One of the good things that the legislature did through House Bill 3 is they were able to compress the tax rate for homeowners (in Texas) and that they were able to increase the basic allotment so that the school district is able to actually receive more state revenue,” said Chief Financial Officer Joey Jones. “The teachers, counselors and librarians will also receive a higher wage.”
'Lower taxes for the LISD community and higher pay for LISD staff, that's what you call a win-win,' said Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox. 'Jay Dean, our state rep, was extremely helpful and worked on getting [House Bill 3] passed. We’re extremely pleased that the state has seen fit to invest more in education, while providing relief to property owners.”
A special meeting is set for 12 p.m. Aug. 28, during which the public will get to voice their thoughts. The meeting will see the administration recommend that the board formally adopt the proposed 2019-20 budget as well as approve the budget. At that time, the board will make their final decision.
House Bill 3, which was passed by the 8th Texas Legislature this year, is a school finance bill which helped with the decrease in property tax rate. More money is intended to provide money for state classrooms, cut local property taxes and increase teacher compensation.
In other business...
During the course of the meeting the LISD Board of Trustees also unanimously:
• APPROVED a proposal to enter into a partnership with Matthew McConaughey's Just Keep Livin' Foundation to be held at Longview High School with the appropriate staff and budget. Staff stipends and budget will be supplied by JKL to allow program to exist. The program will need a program manager and two teachers from LHS in order to function. James Brewer has already approved Donna Clark and Steve Brown as teachers and Elizabeth Ross as Program Manager.
All program costs are covered by the foundation, and is open to all Longview High School students.
The foundation was founded by McConaughey and his wife, Camila, to empower high school students with tools for healthy and active lives.
• APPROVED the purchase of Food Waste Compost Accelerators from Food Service Sustainability Solutions in the amount of $471,100.
Board President Ginia Northcutt said the accelerators take food waste and use heat and pressure to turn the food into compost within 24 hours.
“The plan is in the younger campuses, those kids will actually be putting their waste into the compost, coming back the next day, finding the compost and going and actually spreading it out into the garden on campus,” she said.
Wilcox said the district pays for the food waste on campuses to be picked up and taken to the landfill. Now, the waste will be composted on-site.
• APPROVED expenditures of up to $750,000 of grant funds for miscellaneous classroom furniture and equipment.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, 1301 E. Young St. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 12th.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
