By N. Bradford
Pearland ISD is continuing to public host question-and-answer sessions led by Superintendent Larry Berger ahead of the November election.
Upcoming Zoom presentations regarding the election are being held from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 11, Oct. 23 and on Nov. 6 — the day before the election.
In-person Q&As with Berger are scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at Brookside Potluck Citizens Night, 6243 Brookside Road, 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at the PISD Education Support Center, 7 p.m. on Oct. 19 at the Sunset Cinema in Independence Park, 5:30 p.m. on Halloween night at the city’s Trick or Treat Trail, and at 6 p.m. Nov. 1 at the District Support Center.
Early voting begins Oct. 23.
Facing rising costs, a budget deficit and a long list of facility needs, Pearland ISD trustees on Aug. 21 approved a tax rate that generates another $12 million for the district — but also triggered a voter approval tax rate election, or VATRE. State law requires school districts get voter approval to raise the maintenance and operations tax rate above a maximum specified amount.
“In the 88th State Legislature, the state compressed the tax rate — they lowered it,” Berger said in a recent presentation. “The tax rate in Pearland ISD last year was $1.30. The state (for 2023) lowered it to $1.04. Our school board has approved a tax rate of $1.13.”
Should voters approve the rate passed by trustees, the $1.13 school tax rate means the owner of a $240,000 home saves $547 on his or her school tax bill.
At the $1.04 tax rate set by the state, the same homeowner saves roughly $764, but leaves the school district in a bind regarding funding. PISD’s general fund budget includes revenues of $202.3 million and expenditures of $215.1 million — leaving a deficit of $12.7 million.“The additional $11 million will allow us to recruit and retain quality staff, it will help us bolster campus security, support student programs and allow our budget to have financial stability.”
More information, a tax rate calculator, past presentations and more are available at pearlandisd.org/VATRE.
