Spring ISD homeowners will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve a 2-cent tax rate increase that the district says would generate $15.5 million to protect teacher pay and student programs.
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday, Aug. 18, to place the Voter Approval Tax Rate Election on the fall ballot as Proposition A. If approved, the district's Maintenance & Operations tax rate would rise from $1.1369 to $1.1569 per $100 of assessed value.
For a homeowner with a homestead exemption on a $250,000 home, the increase would cost roughly $55 per year. Homeowners 65 and older or those with a disability exemption are generally protected by a tax ceiling and would not see their school taxes rise.
Where the money goes
Chief of Business Operations Dr. Tamika Alford-Stephens presented the VATRE proposal at the Aug. 18 meeting. According to figures presented at the meeting, the 2-cent increase would bring in an estimated $5.6 million in local revenue and unlock approximately $9.9 million in additional state funding.
Alford-Stephens said the measure is about maintaining instruction, supporting employees and preserving student opportunities while practicing fiscal responsibility.
The money would fund day-to-day operations including teacher and staff compensation, student programs, transportation and utilities. It cannot be used for construction or the district's bond program.
Board Trustee Winford Adams Jr. acknowledged the district has held a VATRE before and that voters were confused about why bond funds couldn't cover employee raises. "Bond funds are specifically for capital projects, while employee raises are part of our regular maintenance and operations," Adams said.
Financial pressure building
The vote comes as Spring ISD manages declining enrollment, rising costs and state funding that does not fully cover some required expenses, according to the district. The board closed Link Elementary and Dueitt Middle School in December 2025 after a $13 million budget deficit left some buildings operating at roughly 60% capacity. Those closures saved about $4 million.
Academic gains as backdrop
The tax election lands days after Spring ISD posted a sharp jump in its accountability rating. The district's TEA score rose 11 points, moving Spring ISD from a D to a C rating, and the number of F-rated campuses dropped from 11 to two, according to the district's Aug. 14 announcement.
Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar, whose contract the board extended through 2031 in June, framed the VATRE as protecting that momentum. He said the district has worked hard to change its trajectory and that students and staff are showing what is possible when they stay focused.
"This is one of the measures that means the most to me because it speaks to trajectory," Cuellar said on Aug. 14, when the accountability ratings were released. "Seven campuses changed their trajectory enough to move off the four-year D/F list. That does not happen by accident."
Key dates for voters
The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Friday, Oct. 30. Polls open Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
