Richardson ISD board adopts 2025-26 tax rate; officials say state calculation makes it appear higher

The Richardson ISD Board of Trustees on Sept. 18 adopted a 2025-26 property tax rate of $1.1052 per $100 of assessed value, voting 7-0 to set an interest-and-sinking (I&S) rate of $0.35 and a maintenance-and-operations (M&O) rate of $0.7552.

The vote followed a public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate and a presentation from David Pate, RISD assistant superintendent of finance and support services, who explained the district's tax components and the state-mandated calculations trustees must use. "That is the motion language, for tonight to adopt the tax rate, and it is confusing language," Pate said, noting the required comparison to the no-new-revenue tax rate under Texas law.

The no-new-revenue comparison drove public concern. Ewan Blackman, a member of the public who addressed the board during the hearing, said the motion language made it look like taxes were increasing for many homeowners: "The tax rate will be effectively raised by 9.09% and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by an approximate $92," Blackman said, adding that homeowners are seeing higher bills because of soaring property values set by the Dallas Central Appraisal District.

Pate told trustees the proposed total tax rate equals last year's dollar amount but the statutory calculation compares the proposed rate to a theoretical prior-year levy. "The tax rate that the board is adopting is the same tax rate as last year's tax rate," Pate said. He noted that individual taxpayers' bills can still rise or fall depending on changes in assessed values by the Dallas Central Appraisal District.

Pate's presentation included districtwide figures: nearly 66,000 parcels are taxed in RISD, about 80% of those residential, and the district's taxable value calculations were affected by recent state constitutional amendment assumptions included in the certified values. He also reviewed district budget changes tied to recent state school finance legislation.

Trustees polled in a roll-call vote — Trustee Regina Harris, Trustee McGowan, Board Secretary Renteria, Trustee Eager, Trustee Toomey, Trustee Pacheco and Board President Chris Poteet — all voted yes. The board's adoption of the rate triggers the next phase of the district's budget work for 2026-27, Pate said.

The board is required by state law to include specific wording in the motion comparing the proposed rate to the no-new-revenue rate; Pate cited Texas Tax Code section 26.05 and noted the wording causes confusion for taxpayers. The board will proceed with the district's budget development and will present follow-up budget documents as required.

Votes at a glance: "I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of a dollar $10.52, which is effectively a 9.09¢ increase in the tax rate" was the motion language used for the required statutory comparison; the board adopted the tax rate by a 7-0 roll-call vote.

The board closed the public hearing and moved on to other agenda items. The district emphasized that the formal tax rate adoption adheres to state requirements and that final tax bills for individual homeowners will depend on each property's assessed value and any applicable exemptions.

The board will continue budget work for the 2026-27 fiscal year and staff said they will begin that process immediately.