Spring ISD is pitching Proposition A as a way to boost teacher and staff pay, with the voter registration deadline set for Monday, Oct. 5.
The district said on social media Sept. 30 that if voters approve the measure on the Nov. 3 ballot, the money would help Spring ISD compete for teachers and retain staff in a tight labor market. Compensation is the district's lead funding priority, but not the only one.
The measure, a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE), would generate an estimated $15.5 million for the district. That includes $5.6 million in additional local revenue and $9.9 million in state funding unlocked by the local investment, according to the district's Prop A website.
Beyond compensation, the district identified a second priority: protecting student-success programs already in place and those planned for the future. Any remaining funds could help offset budget pressures from inflation, rising healthcare costs, utility bills and safety mandates, the website states.
The board of trustees voted unanimously on Monday, Aug. 17, to place Prop A on the ballot. If approved, the district's Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate would rise 2 cents to $1.1569 per $100 of property value, up from $1.1369.
For the average Spring ISD home, valued at $248,315, the increase would cost homeowners with a homestead exemption about $22 per year. Homeowners 65 or older, or those with a disability homestead exemption, are generally protected by a tax ceiling and would not see an increase.
Prop A is not a bond. It would not fund construction or generate new debt.
Board Trustee Winford Adams Jr. drew that distinction at the Aug. 17 board meeting, when trustees voted to place the measure on the ballot. "Bond funds are specifically for capital projects, while employee raises are part of our regular maintenance and operations," Adams said, noting that voters had confused the two during a previous election cycle.
No organized opposition to Prop A has surfaced in public records as of publication. No independent community reaction was available.
The district has updated its community meeting schedule. Previously planned in-person sessions at Westfield High School and Spring High School were canceled. Four meetings remain:
- Wednesday, Oct. 7: virtual meeting
- Wednesday, Oct. 14: in-person at the Community Engagement Center
- Wednesday, Oct. 28: in-person at Dekaney High School
- Monday, Nov. 2: virtual meeting
Each session will include a presentation and a question-and-answer period.
Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30 at all Harris County voting locations. Election Day is Nov. 3, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
