A Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) is a special election that allows school districts in Texas to seek voter approval to increase the district’s maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate above the state-mandated threshold.

For Poth ISD, the purpose of the VATRE is to provide additional funding for the school district to offer pay increases to teachers and staff and to pursue facilities projects that may fall beyond the monies budgeted within a current school year.

If the VATRE is approved in November, the taxpayer burden will remain as is. 

At the current tax rate, per $100 valuation, $0.66690 goes toward the M&O rate and $0.28850 goes toward the I&S rate, with a total rate of $0.95540.  If the VATRE passes, $0.78690 will go toward the M&O rate, with $0.16850 going toward the I&S rate, leaving the tax rate steady at $0.95540.

The two main funding projects focus on teacher and staff compensation and facilities projects.

VATRE and Teacher Pay

Teacher compensation is a critical issue in Texas and across the United States. With the rising cost of living and increased responsibilities placed on educators, many districts find it challenging to offer competitive salaries. This challenge is exacerbated in Texas, where the funding formula often does not fully account for local variations in costs or the specific needs of districts.

A VATRE provides a pathway for Poth ISD to directly address teacher pay. By approving a VATRE, voters may allow their school district to raise additional revenue specifically for purposes such as increasing teacher salaries. This increase in funding can be instrumental in:

Attracting Qualified Educators

Competitive salaries help attract highly qualified teachers, which can directly impact the quality of education.

Retaining Experienced Staff

Higher pay can also help reduce teacher turnover and retain experienced teachers who might otherwise leave for better-paying opportunities in other districts or states.

Facility Projects

While Poth ISD annually budgets for routine maintenance and repairs, the scope of some larger projects may fall outside of the annual budget.  Likewise, smaller construction-related projects can help to enhance existing facilities.

With the establishment of two main funding priorities, staff compensation and facility improvements, Poth ISD intends to implement a timeline that gradually shifts funding allocations from one priority to the next, with the goal of eventually significantly increasing staff salaries throughout the district.

Of the estimated $1,300,000 in funds accessed by the VATRE, the District will deploy a three-year implementation schedule.  The District plans on allocating approximately 60% of monies toward facility improvements and 40% toward staff salaries in year one, transitioning to a 50/50 allocation in year two, and eventually adopting permanently a 40% share toward facilities and 60% share toward salaries in year three and beyond.