Manor ISD keeps total tax rate at $1.0814; board approves budget amendment, new FTEs and 1% raises

The Manor Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 18 adopted a total property tax rate of $1.0814 per $100 valuation (maintenance and operations 0.7113; interest and sinking 0.3701) and approved several budget and personnel actions, each by recorded voice vote of 7-0.

District finance staff presented the tax proposal and revenue projections during the statutorily required property tax public hearing. Moises Santiago summarized certified and taxable values, noting a 2.38% decline in certified value for 2025 after the homestead exemption grew from $100,000 to $140,000. Santiago said the district projects a net taxable value of about $11.2 billion, a total tax levy near $122 million and is assuming a 98.5% collection rate. He told the board the proposed tax rate would raise less maintenance-and-operations revenue than last year and estimated the typical homeowner would pay about $240 less than the prior year under the unchanged rate.

The board also considered the district’s monthly financial report and a recommendation on borrowing and debt management. Santiago reported year-end fund balance pressure: fiscal 2024–25 revenues collected were about $94.1 million against expenditures that reduced the fund balance by about $23 million; cash operations at the June close were about $13.7…