BRENHAM SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSES TAX RATE; PUBLIC HEARING & ADOPTION SET FOR AUG. 12
As Brenham ISD prepares for the possibility of calling a tax rate election this fall for teacher and staff pay raises, the Brenham School Board today (Tuesday) proposed an increase to the property tax rate in the upcoming fiscal year.
The proposed rate consists of $0.7122 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.08 for interest and sinking (I&S), totaling $0.7922 per $100 valuation. While the I&S rate is projected to stay the same come formal adoption of the tax rate at the board’s August 12th meeting, the final M&O rate is expected to fall below the proposed rate, due to state compression requirements.
Chief Financial Officer Darrell St. Clair explained that the highest expected rate that could be approved for M&O is $0.6884, which – combined with the $0.08 rate for I&S – would mean the final rate comes out to $0.7684 in the event that a voter approval tax rate election (VATRE) is called at next month’s meeting. The current proposal is higher in order to provide leeway in case of any changes in state calculations, as the district can only adopt a rate at or below the proposal, not above.
Brenham ISD’s existing tax rate is $0.7469 per $100, with the M&O set at $0.6669 and the I&S at $0.08.
Board President Jared Krenek, speaking on the possibility of calling a bond election to address district infrastructure, stressed that the bond would not impact the tax rate because the district has been responsible with its I&S debt. He said most other districts do not have opportunities like this, with Trustee Kyle Hafner adding that Brenham ISD’s $0.08 rate for I&S is 10 cents below the next-lowest school district of 13 schools in the region.
Krenek said the low tax rate is something to be proud of, but it can also come at a detriment to students in situations like what is currently happening with the major repairs needed at campus facilities. Superintendent Clay Gillentine said districts need “a healthy amount of debt” in order to act strategically and avoid having to cover expenses with M&O funding, which could instead be going toward employees.
Gillentine acknowledged that there is a sense of urgency in calling a bond election for November, saying there are emergency situations at the middle school and junior high school, along with other major items that need to be addressed “sooner than later.” Depending on the outcome of the active special session, he said there is “strong consideration” in Austin that this opportunity might only be possible in November, and that the spring will not be an option.
A public hearing on the proposed tax rate and budget will be held at the board’s next regular meeting on August 12th at 6 p.m. at Brenham High School. The meeting will include recommendations from the strategic planning committee on whether to go for a VATRE and/or a bond election. There will also be an item for a reimbursement resolution which pertains to a bond election if it should pass; since the district could not obtain bond proceeds until next year, and some capital projects that would be outlined in the bond are considered emergencies, the resolution allows the district to use the general fund for those projects and reimburse the general fund once the bond proceeds come in.
Trustees also heard details about the newly certified property values released by the Washington County Appraisal District. Certified values in Brenham ISD for the 2025-26 tax year sit at $5,018,946,828, up 3.92 percent from $4,829,513,301 in the current tax year. St. Clair noted that this year’s values are calculating homestead exemptions at the $140,000 approved by state legislators and set to be voted on this fall, while last year’s values had homestead exemptions at $100,000.
What a shock….a tax increase….and i’m sorry, but comparing the rate to nearby counties doesn’t make a rate increase justifiable or affordable…better yet, how about make the property tax ACTUALLY FAIR and based on the ACTUAL value of the property. Im sick of seeing wealthy individuals with a $600,000+ home on multiple hundred acres worth well over $1million paying LESS in property tax than a struggling labor worker in an $80,000 home in town that has been assessed at $200+k. And what about those who dont have children or use and public service? Is it fair to them? The system is broken and needs and overhaul and officials continue to reach in the pockets of citizens scraping by…how about reduce the salaries of elected officials, see how many will stay in office then…..the greed and drunkenness on power needs to stop…
I am not sure what elected officials you are speaking of – but school board elected officials are NOT paid. With that said, “greed and drunkenness on power” does not apply in this instance. The board is trying to do what is right for the future of our amazing town. They are putting STUDENTS and TEACHERS/STAFF first.
This is the system you have voted for. Republicans have controlled this state for 30 years, property tax is the only mechanism to fund public goods, roads, water infrastructure, fire, police, EMS and Public Education. Since there’s no income tax in this state, and there never will be this is what we’re stuck with. I’m also so tired of the loudest naysayers being the over 65 crowd who have their property taxes frozen.
We need to do something about the junior high and you cannot MAINTAIN your way out of functional obsolescence. Its 60+ years old with hundreds of kids pounding the halls every day. Foundation issues aren’t a lack of maintenance problem. I really miss the days when people in this community would come together for the common good of the community. But I think those days are gone.
I agree with you 100%. The junior high building is in such a sad state. My biggest fear is that the building will collapse while students and teachers are inside. The only way to grow a community is to put our schools as a top priority. Businesses are not coming here, because the school districts around is are flurishing
Comparing the rate to nearby counties DOES apply. Our school board continues to keep rates low to keep people happy even at the detriment of the school district because we are so spoiled that we complain when there is any rate hike necessary to get a bond to build/upgrade facilities that we desperately need. Also, nobody in a $600,000 home is getting a lesser valuation than a $200k home, not how it works. Ag exemptions only apply to land not homes. Your logic of only using a public service that applies to you is flawed. My house has never burned down or been broken into, nor have a used an ambulance. But fire fighters, cops, and paramedics sure are nice to have when you need them. Those services, just like schools are for the betterment of the community as a whole. As for drunkenness of greed and power, respectfully, there is not one elected official that works for the City, County, or School district that is getting “rich” off public money, as all of them could make more in other places. Nor do they have that much power.
I appreciate your response and am, like you, so tired of hearing the complaining from those that do not have kids or grandkids in the schools. I love how those who come to our town to retire WHINE the most. We have families and kids. Those families and culture are what makes this area somewhere they want to live. We have got to get a grip on our schools, replenish our facilities and pay the teachers! Our future, our legacy, is the kids going to our schools. I want them to have what they need for a healthy and stable learning environment in order to compete with the kids that go to our neighboring districts. Enough is enough! The longer we kick the can, the more dollars it will take to get to par.