West Oso ISD staff outline plan to seek five-penny voter-approval tax increase that could raise about $1.1M annually
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Summary
Trustees heard a presentation on a voter-approval tax-rate election that would raise the maintenance-and-operations rate by five pennies (to 0.7169 M&O), increase the total tax rate to about 1.1669 and is estimated to generate roughly $1.1 million per year; staff outlined timeline and marketing considerations ahead of a potential November 2026 election.
The board reviewed the mechanics and potential impact of a voter-approval tax-rate (TRE) election. Staff explained the district’s current maintenance-and-operations (M&O) rate is 0.6669 (total tax rate 1.1169 including interest and sinking). Increasing M&O by five pennies would raise the M&O to 0.7169 and the total rate to approximately 1.1669.
Staff estimated a five-penny increase would produce about $1.1 million annually. Presenters stressed the distribution of impact depends on homestead exemptions and property values; for example, the presenter advised the monthly impact on an average home valued near $150,000 would be about $0.42 and an annual estimate of about $5 for many homeowners, while certain commercial and non-homestead properties would bear a larger share.
Trustees discussed strategy: whether to ask for only the five ‘golden’ pennies the state allows without additional justification, or to seek broader authority (up to a local maximum that includes additional ‘copper’ pennies). They also discussed the risk of asking voters for too large an increase and the importance of a marketing plan and auditor selection prior to ordering an election.
Staff outlined the procedural timeline: complete a financial-efficiency audit and select an auditor at least four months before the election, adopt the election resolution at least 7–8 days before the ballot order, and publish public notices between July 13 and August 3 for a potential November 4, 2026 election day.
Trustees asked staff to prepare analysis showing how the district’s tax rate compares to neighboring districts and to produce modeling on impacts at different penny increments and on commercial taxpayers, plus a communications plan before the board decides whether to call an election.
