Del Valle ISD adopts 2025-26 tax rate after brief public hearing

The Del Valle Independent School District Board of Trustees adopted a proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2025-26 after a brief public hearing and a unanimous vote.

Dina Edgar, deputy superintendent of administrative services, reviewed state law changes affecting property-tax calculations and presented the district's budget and proposed rates. Edgar said the district adopted a general fund budget of $140,700,000 and a debt service budget of $64,400,000 in June and "we are proposing a maintenance and operations tax rate of $61.89 and an interest in sinking or debt service tax rate of 33 cents." She added, "I'm happy to answer any questions."

Edgar told trustees the district has seen roughly 17% year-over-year property-value growth in the most recent year and that values have quadrupled since 2015. She said the increase in values and state law changes have compressed local tax rates: "upon adoption of the 2025 tax rate we will have lowered the M&O tax rate by $0.42 since 2018," she said. Edgar also noted that the district's top 10 taxpayers represent almost 44% of the tax base and identified Tesla and Tito's among the largest commercial taxpayers.

After the hearing closed, Secretary Guardian moved to approve "the maximum maintenance of operations tax rate of $61.89 and the interest in tax of 33 cents for the total maximum tax rate of 94.89" for 2025-26. Trustee Franco seconded the motion. The board voted by show of hands; the motion "carries 9 to 0," and the sample tax ordinance will be signed following adoption.

Board members did not request further changes during the meeting, and no public commenters spoke during the hearing. The special meeting, which included the public hearing and the vote, concluded shortly after the adoption and before the district's regularly scheduled 6:30 meeting.