Takeways from the SW Neighborhood Association’s public meeting with Uvalde CISD Superintendent Chohlis on the VATRE

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

10-27-24

 With the first week of early voting underway, several dozen people attended the Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association’s meeting held at the Tomas Valle America Legion Hall 479 with Uvalde CISD Superintendent Chohlis who presented information about the Voter Approved Tax Rate Election also called VATRE. District Trustees Jaclyn Gonzales, JJ Suarez and Robert Quinones also attended the meeting.

According to Chohis, if the VATRE passes at the ballot box, it would raise approximately $1.9 million for the District. The district plans on covering the remaining $600,000 deficit by measures to boost attendance.  So far, this year, attendance has been up by 4%.

Why is the VARTRE needed? 

 Earlier this year, the Uvalde CISD School Board passed a deficit budget for the 2024/2025 school year which means the income coming in from property taxes, as well as the State of Texas and Federal Governments would fall short by approximately $2.5 million to cover the expenses of running the District. 

The shortfall, according to the presentation delivered by Superintendent Chohlis, stems from a few mail factors including: 

1. 

    The State of Texas legislature voted to provide the same amount of money to public schools without adjusting the amounts due to inflation.  According to Chohlis, the current dollar has only 77 cents compared to the same dollar in 2019. 

2. Federal Government contribution received by Uvalde CISD has been reduced. 
3.  The District has seen a decrease in student attendance due to factors such as the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic and the May 24th, 2024 Robb School Tragedy. One factor that determines how much money a District can receive from the State is student attendance. 
4. Unfunded mandates by the State of Texas. Put simply, an unfunded mandate is a requirement the State puts on a district to implement without providing the money needed to fulfill the requirement. For example, the State requires all campuses to have one armed person but does not provide the funding for this security measure. 

      Are other school districts in the State of Texas affected?

      Yes. Many other school districts are feeling the pinch of not receiving State funding that has adjusted for inflation. 

      What has the district done so far to cut expenses?

      According to Chohlis, the district has not rehired for many of the positions left vacant by state retirement and resignation. Existing Staff roles are being changed and cover the vacant positions and employees have been reassigned to different positions.

      If passed by the voters, how much would the VATRE increase property taxes? 

       The VATRE states a 11-cent / $100 valuation of property within the district.  According to Chohlis, the district is required to present the VATRE as a 11-cent increase. However, due to a bond obligation which was passed in 2005 ending with money allocated to cover the last bond payment due in 2025, the bond tax rate will be reduced by 10 cents per $100 valuation making the effective VATRE increase only 1 cent / $100 valuation. 

    Additionally, homeowners receive a $100,000 tax exemption on the first $100,000 of the value of their homes.    This exemption would not apply to rental properties.

    Persons 65 and over would be exempt from the VATRE tax if passed. 

    What if the VATRE does not pass?

    The district has a list of cuts it can make to its budget, but the results of these cuts would likely result in significant adjustments, dramatically impacting students and parents.   

• Slate Creek Ranch: $140,000.
• Community Services (Day Care): 148,542
• Substitute Teachers: $450,000
• Transportation: $500,000 estimated. Savings moving to 2 miles from school. (Currently anyone can ride the bus no matter the distance to school)
• School Safety: Uvalde CISD PD $603,566
• Batesville: Current enrollment: 94 students:  Staff $1,279,646    Utilities $63,500
• Hiring Freeze Excluding core and CTE Teaching positions
• Master Schedule Modifications: Reduce all teachers to one conference period a day
• Increase Class Size: Waiver class size limits
• Reduce Auxiliary Personnel
• Hourly Staff 40 hour a week limit-no overtime