By Edmond Ortiz
Voters in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District last fall narrowly rejected the district’s then-proposed property tax increase.
SCUCISD residents who had organized to promote the tax proposal were disappointed but learned their lessons well enough to approach things differently upon campaigning for the school district’s bond package that went before local voters this past spring. Voters passed two proposals and narrowly rejected a third proposal.
That grassroots group of residents – Students First at SCUCISD – has sought to educate district voters about its latest property tax proposal, also known as a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE).
“We’re trying to help our community to better understand school funding, how a VATRE works, and what’s at stake,” said Carla Barnes, a co-founder of Students First at SCUCISD.
What is happening
SCUCISD is one of five San Antonio-area school districts that are holding a VATRE during the Nov. 3 elections. East Central, Northside, San Antonio and South San independent school districts, also, are having VATREs Nov. 3.
Officials with numerous Texas school districts have said the state has, over recent years, provided inadequate funding to public schools.
School district leaders have also said their fiscal challenges are exacerbated by inflation, escalating costs of living and running school districts, budget deficits, stagnating property tax income, and the state further limiting property tax rate growth.
When school districts and local governments feel they must propose raising their property tax rate by a certain amount, the state requires a public election to approve the increase.
If voters approve a VATRE or property tax hike, the newly generated revenue can be used for various daily operations, such as boosting teacher and staff wages, or maintaining student academic programs. Texas law also requires an independent audit of district efficiencies before a district goes forward with a VATRE.
According to the Texas Association of School Boards, in 2023, more than 50 Texas school districts successfully saw their property tax hike approved by voters.
More and more Texas school districts seeking voters’ permission to raise their tax rate comes at a time when some districts are already struggling with declining student enrollment, and academic accountability ratings.
With the latter, 14 Texas school districts including Judson and San Antonio ISDs had at least one campus with a fourth straight failing grade, according to the Texas Education Agency’s 2026 ratings. Such poor ratings put these districts at risk of a potential state takeover.
Simultaneously, thanks largely to the state limiting local property tax growth and expanding tax exemptions, the number of Texas homesteads paying property taxes to independent school districts has dropped from $41.66 billion in 2024 to $41.65 billion in 2025, according to a recently released report on tax savings sparked by the passage of Texas Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23.
How VATREs work
The local school districts that are having a VATRE this election cycle have been using public meetings and social media to inform residents how a locally approved property tax hike would benefit district students and educators.
Each of the five school districts proposes leveraging the daily maintenance and operations portion of their respective property tax rate, with successful new funding infusions occurring yearly. Here’s a breakdown of each district proposal:
- ECISD: A 3.72-cent increase, which if passed would generate $5.37 million in local revenue, and trigger $3.1 million in additional state funding. The new money would be used to support compensation for top talent, performance pay, more safety personnel, and student programs. On a home valued at $270,000, after exemptions, the taxing impact would be an additional 13 cents per month.
- NISD: A 3-cent increase, which if adopted would generate $21.5 million in local funding, and trigger $24 million in additional state funding. The new money would be used to fund Northside’s 2026-2027 staff compensation plan, which includes a 2% pay boost for all employees, selected pay adjustments, and proposed stipend adjustments. Any leftover VATRE funds would be used on the district’s budget deficit. The taxing impact would be an additional $30 per year for every $100,000 in home value.
- SAISD: A 3.17-cent hike, which if passed would generate $5.5 million in new total funding for staff pay initiatives, college and career-readiness programs, and efforts to improve recruitment and retention of teachers. On a home valued at $350,000, post-exemptions, the taxing impact would be an additional $5.55 per month.
- SCUCISD: A 12-cent increase, which if passed, would generate $8.2 million in local funding, and trigger $6.9 million in additional state funding. The new money would be used to wipe out the district’s $8 million budget shortfall, and help to buoy operating expenses, such as recruiting and retaining staff, and maintaining program offerings for students. The taxing impact on the average SCUCISD homestead would be an additional $18 per month.
- SSISD: An .11-cent boost, which if passed, would generate $3 million in new total funding to support pay raises for paraprofessionals and auxiliary employees. The money would also be used to replace, repair or to buy new musical instruments for mariachi and band programs, and upgrade daily use equipment and resources, from digital devices and athletic field surfaces to heating, cooling and ventilation systems at individual campuses.
Northside and San Antonio ISDs are also proposing bond packages in the same election, but officials in those districts are stressing that a bond would affect the debt service, or interest and sinking portion of their respective property tax rate.
Regardless of school district, disabled taxpayers and those ages 65 and older will not have their taxes increased even if a VATRE in their district were to pass.
What they are saying
Some leaders and residents in Northside, San Antonio, South San, East Central and SCUC ISDs have voiced concern, saying a property tax hike would adversely affect taxpayers already coping with rising costs of living.
But most leaders of school districts holding a VATRE have been overall consistent with their public messaging about how a voter-approved tax hike could positively benefit local students and employees, and that they have done all that is possible to cut spending and chip away at budget gaps.
In SCUCISD, Barnes and Students First at SCUCISD co-founder Veronica Goldhorn said they are approaching local voters with confidence and positivity. The approaches may differ depending on the voter, who could be a business owner, an empty-nester, a young family, a longtime resident and district alumni, or a newcomer.
Barnes said, despite a tax hike’s unpopularity, it is important to demonstrate that new voter-approved funding can ultimately benefit students and their programs, maintain ideal class sizes, and help to lure and keep quality teachers in the district.
For a few school districts, a voter-backed tax hike could allow a district to stave off more severe program cuts, layoffs and, in some instances, campus closures.
“We try to tap in your life experience and help them understand that, by supporting a VATRE, it can benefit us for generations to come,” Barnes said.
Goldhorn said her group is looking out for voters who might be still on the fence about the district’s property tax proposal.
“We’re trying to reach people who want to learn about the VATRE and we can share with them what’s at stake,” Goldhorn added. “It’s about making great schools. Great schools build a great community.”
When and where to vote
Early voting in Bexar County will be held 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 19-23, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 26-30, and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 25 at 56 voting stations. Election Day polling locations will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Early voting in Guadalupe County will take place from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 19-23, and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 24 and 26-30, and noon-6 p.m. Oct. 25 at the following locations. Election Day polling locations will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
