SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSES TO DROP TAX RATE

  

The Brenham School Board voted to drop their proposed tax rate by one cent at their noon meeting today (Monday).  The proposed rate would still bring in $1.5 million in additional revenue due to the increase in property valuations.  This year, property appraisals in the district went up an average of 5.6 percent.  Kim Weatherby, BISD Director of Business and Finance explains what that will mean to the average home owner:

The proposed tax rate of $1.125 per $100 valuation is made up $1.04 towards maintenance and operations and $0.085 towards debt service.

The board also approved a proposed budget for the coming school year of $43 million dollars.  The biggest increase in the budget is the 4 percent midpoint pay increase approved earlier this year and the $300 per year health insurance allotment for each employee.  Of the $43 million dollar budget, roughly $27 million is funded by local property taxes.  The state contributes roughly $15 million.  With the average daily attendance in the district staying the same as last year, the proposed budget will spend $9110 per student in the coming year.  That is a 5.6 percent increase over last year.   The board will now hold a public meeting on the proposed budget and tax rate.  That meeting will be Monday, August 21st at 5:30 pm at Brenham High School.

In other action, Weatherby updated the board on the current status of the district concerning the state chapter 41 recapture law.  She explained that the district remains in the gap area of the law, meaning that it neither pays into the fund nor receives funding from chapter 41.

Assistant Superintendent Paul Aschenbeck updated the board on the renovations at the new Early Childhood Learning Center.  He said the center, located on the old Alton Elementary Campus, was ready for its ribbon cutting today (Monday) and only a few items remain to be done before the start of school.  He also stated that the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing renovations at Krause Elementary School were on track to be finished by the first day of classes.

The board also voted to purchase 3 new school buses.  The International 71 passenger busses are air-conditioned and will be purchased for $90 thousand each through the districts Buy Board contract.