Crowley ISD trustees approve Hill College and district tax rates; one trustee records opposition to district rate

The Crowley Independent School District board approved two tax-rate items during the meeting: adoption of the Hill College tax rate at the no-new-revenue rate and adoption of the district tax rate at the voter-approval tax rate of $1.285. The board first approved the Hill College rate on a motion by Krista (Trustee) with a second by Simone (Trustee); there was no recorded opposition. On the district tax rate, Ward (staff member) presented the calculation and said the proposed 2025–26 tax-rate components are a maintenance and operations rate of 78.5¢ and an interest and sinking rate of 50¢, for a combined rate of $1.285. A motion to adopt the district tax rate at $1.285 carried with one opposed; the transcript does not identify which trustee cast the lone no vote. One trustee spoke against routinely “maxing out” the voter-approval tax rate and said taxpayers are “hurting,” noting she had voted against the budget earlier because it reached the maximum rate. Ward noted that each penny of the tax rate equates to about $190,000 in revenue for the district, and that failing to adopt the recommended rate could reduce funds available for raises and staffing. Trustees discussed the impact of a recent change in homestead exemptions that the speaker said will reduce some homeowners’ bills. The motions to adopt both tax rates were recorded as passing.