The Round Rock ISD Board of Trustees voted to call for Proposition A, or also known as a Voter- Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE), for Nov. 7 to provide staff members with salary increases and approved a tax rate of $0.9190 for the 2023-2024 school year during a called meeting on Aug. 21. The calling for the election follows months of exploration by the Board of Trustees and the approval of the 2023-2024 budget, which included considerations for a VATRE.
Prop A allows voters to approve or disapprove the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees. If passed, it will allow Round Rock ISD to access the maximum amount of tax revenue from golden pennies, which is not subject to recapture and would remain with the District.
If approved by voters, Prop A would inject an additional $19 million into the District’s operating fund. These funds would be used to provide an additional 3% general pay increase for all staff members on top of the guaranteed salary increases approved by the Board in May. The general pay increase is based on the midpoint. For example, our non-teacher positions received the approved 2% of the midpoint, and should Prop A pass, an additional 3% of the midpoint will be given. Funding the overall salary increases would cost the District approximately $21 million.
The $0.9190 tax rate depends on Prop A’s approval, which would be lower than the District’s $1.0626 tax rate for 2022-2023.
If Prop A is not approved, the District would not be able to provide the additional salary increases due to various financial constraints. These constraints include the estimated $77 million in recapture payments the District will submit to the state of Texas this school year, the discontinuation of federal funding programs, the Texas legislature’s decision not to increase the basic allotment amount per student, state mandates the District will have to allocate funds to meet, and rising operating costs due to inflation. In addition, if Prop A does not pass, the District will face a $33 million deficit.
More information on the election, FAQs, polling times and locations will soon be available on the District’s Prop A website. For additional questions, please use the Prop A category on Let’s Talk to submit your inquiry.
