Liberty Hill ISD adopts 2024–25 budget, approves tax-rate ballot and attendance-credit election for Nov. 5

The Liberty Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 15 adopted the district’s 2024–25 budgets and approved ballot measures asking voters to ratify a proposed combined tax rate of 1.2269 per $100 of valuation and to authorize the purchase of attendance credits to address state recapture (Chapter 49). The board voted to adopt the general fund, food service fund and debt service budgets and to approve a compensation package tied to the proposed election.

District finance officer Miss Guerrero told the board during a public hearing that Liberty Hill has faced “significant cuts in state and federal funding,” including reductions in the fast‑growth allotment and a large reduction in SHARS (school health and related services) reimbursements. Guerrero said the district received a $7 million fast‑growth allotment in 2023–24 that was reduced by roughly $2 million after the state cap, and that an approved SHARS cost report for approximately $1.1 million was cut by about $898,000, which she characterized as a 78 percent reduction to anticipated reimbursements for special education services.

Guerrero said inflation and rapid enrollment growth have increased costs: the district’s cost per student rose from about $8,300 to more than $10,100, utilities are up roughly 83 percent, fuel is up about 176 percent, and insurance costs rose…