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Bryan ISD tax rate increase election

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AgLaw09
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1:34p, 9/16/26
I hadn't seen a discussion on Bryan ISD's Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) that will be on the November 3rd ballot so I thought I would collect and present information for one.

BISD has proposed a Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate of 0.6968 (up from 0.6769) for a total tax rate of 0.9668; the other 0.27 is the Interest & Sinking rate. Because of the amount of the increase, voters will have to approve the proposed rate.

The ballot language (from BISD's VATRE presentation):

Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $0.9668 per $100 valuation in the Bryan Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 2.10 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the District for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $5,595,641.

Admittedly I'm irritated with that language because it presents the rate BISD wants approved along with the increased amount of tax revenue that BISD will receive while omitting the rate amount that will be imposed if the VATRE fails. I understand that BISD's choice of ballot language is an act of advocacy and that their likely response would be that that information is in the VATRE information that they've provided, but they know many voters will not have read any of that material before walking into the voter booth. Otherwise, why omit it from the ballot language (in other words, hide the ball)?

As for the math, using a home appraisal value of $350,000 (the amount used by BISD in its presentation) the difference in the tax amount would be:

VATRE rate (0.9668): $3,383.80 ($2,030.28 w/ HS exemption)
"Non"-VATRE rate (0.9469): $3,314.15 ($1,988.49 w/ HS exemption)

Consistent with the information in BISD's VATRE brochure, the increased tax amount would be $69.65 ($41.79 w/ HS exemption).

However, that increase amount does not include other increases that taxpayers will have to pay in 2026. Brazos County approved a tax increase from 0.4197 to 0.443474, which (using the same $350,000 home appraisal value) will result in an increased tax amount of $83.21 (from $1,468.95 to $1,552.16).

For that $350,000 home, the total property tax amount for 2026 would be $7,119.96 ($5,766.44 w/ HS exemption). If the VATRE fails, the amount would instead be $7,050.31 ($5,724.65 w/ HS exemption). This assumes the home is in Bryan, which did not increase its tax rate from 0.624, and is not subject to any other taxing entities.

But there's also the year-over-year appraisal value increase. I haven't found information on what the exact average increase of appraisal values was for Brazos County from 2025 to 2026, but Brazos CAD's Chief Appraiser Dana Horton told KBTX in April that valuations went up approximately 10%. Anecdotally my increase was 4.6% (down from 7% before my tax protest). Using a conservative 4% increase amount, that $350,000 house was appraised at $336,540 in 2025. Under this scenario, the property tax increase difference from 2025 to 2026, assuming the VATRE passes, would be:

2025: $6,699.17 ($5,373.51 w/ HS exemption)
2026: $7,119.96 ($5,766.44 w/ HS exemption)

For that $350,000 home, the property tax increase from 2025 to 2026 would be $420.79 ($392.93 w/ HS exemption).

This is against the backdrop of the Federal Reserve today raising its benchmark interest rate to approximately 3.9% with projections this it will raise it to 4.1% later this year, and a current inflation rate of 3.4%.

Couple of other observations. First, voters approved BISD's $397 million bond package last November. While those funds cannot be used to fund the day-to-day operations of the district, it would be foolish to believe that none of the revenue from the proposed M&O tax rate is needed or will be used to maintain and operate at least some of the projects funded by that bond election.

Second, according to BISD's Summary of Proposed Budget, 49% of the district's total budget for 2026-27 will go to Instruction (in other words, classroom teaching). None of BISD's VATRE information that I've reviewed explicitly states how or where the additional 5.6 million (of which approximately 3 million will come from the State) will be distributed. Assuming the proposed budget already includes that estimated 5.6 million amount, $2.7 million will go to what BISD has labeled the Instruction section of its budget.

While BISD's proposed increase is arguably nominal, it still adds to the pressure from all the other sources that are squeezing money from taxpayers. Almost everyone that makes money is having to tighten their belts when it comes to spending. I don't think it's too much to ask that entities that do not make money do the same, or, in the alternative, at least refrain from asking taxpayers to tighten their belts more.

ETA to add links.
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michellecan
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5:14p, 9/16/26
Agree…I'm tired of working and everybody getting the fruits of my labor, both legally and illegally.

Edit to add: When the COB decides to trim their budget and govern within their means, I will consider it.
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Rapier108
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5:32p, 9/16/26
I will be voting NO and hopefully enough people will as well.

The school districts for so long have been able to keep raising taxes "for the children."

Well, the children are disappearing because of the border being closed/deportations, people not having kids/as many kids anymore, and better options for parents to send their kids to.

BISD does not need more of my hard earned money, especially since I don't have kids.
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techno-ag
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In reply to AgLaw09 • 10:36a, 9/17/26
AG
AgLaw09 said:


But there's also the year-over-year appraisal value increase.


Yup. That $350,000 home will be appraised at $400,000-450,000 next year.
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
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Vinewood_03
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10:47a, 9/17/26
I'll be voting YES and encouraging everyone else I know to do the same. The Governor of this state is purposely underfunding public education (which I believe is borderline criminal) all the while pushing costly mandates upon an already strained business model (The basic allotment the state provide per child hasn't even remotely kept up with inflation). Why is he diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools, but they are held to a completely different standard? Why are they being funded on enrollment #'s as opposed to average daily enrollment #'s like public ed? If you went through the public education system you should be questioning the same. This example is just one of many! I am as fiscally as conservative as they come, but when you pop up the hood of public education in the State of Texas and what this current administration is doing to subvert the efforts of districts across the state we need to seriously evaluate who we put in office because there will be unintended consequences. (Note: This state has $28.5 BILLION in rainy day funds).

***MORE HOUSES BEING BUILT IN BRYAN DOESNT MEAN THE DISTRICT MAKES MORE MONEY***

Also, don't conflate the federal or local governments with public education. Bryan ISD actually balanced its budget which tells me they aren't operating with their head in the sand and is likely using the VATRE as a springboard to increase teacher pay and attract TALENT to its district whereby CHANGING ITS REPUATION that has long been the whisper in the corner at dinner parties of why people won't raise their families in Bryan.

The teaching profession is already on life support, and I've never been a part of a successful organization that didn't have adequate funding. You want to cut out the knees of something? Cut its funding and then gas light the public into believing they don't deserve it.

I have 3 kids in the district and pay taxes just like the rest. I chuckle sometimes when I hear people say "I don't have kids in the district so why should I?? Perspective should matter that somewhere in your lifetime a generation before you decided it should do something that is beneficial to its public education system that likely cost them some money, but they saw the greater good. It's my turn now and I'll proudly be voting YES for Proposition A and if it means I have to skip going through Chick Fil A once a month then so be it.
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Gap
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 10:55a, 9/17/26
AG
If the teaching profession is on "life support", it is because of the lack of discipline in the schools perpetuated by the leadership. The balance of responsibility, salary, hours, and time off is pretty solid. It is just a crappy place to work because the leadership makes having the necessary discipline in the building nearly impossible.
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Vinewood_03
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In reply to Gap • 11:09a, 9/17/26
I agree with you and in a roundabout way you're proving my point. The state forces mandates both by curriculum, cost, and discipline and then back doors it with inadequate funding. It would be one thing for the state to say "we are capped at our funding level for public school districts". But then why are they sending money to private schools?

This is like your parents fixing your siblings Mercedes so they could get to the golf course but won't help fixing your Pento so you could get to work.
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Rapier108
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In reply to techno-ag • 11:55a, 9/17/26
techno-ag said:
AgLaw09 said:


But there's also the year-over-year appraisal value increase.


Yup. That $350,000 home will be appraised at $400,000-450,000 next year.

Wait until Terrafab ramps up.

We'll probably see home values in parts of Brazos County triple in value in just one or two years once the increases start.

People in Grimes County will be taxed out of their homes because of it.
"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." - Sir Winston Churchill
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MelvinUdall
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 12:48p, 9/17/26
Vinewood_03 said:
I'll be voting YES and encouraging everyone else I know to do the same. The Governor of this state is purposely underfunding public education (which I believe is borderline criminal) all the while pushing costly mandates upon an already strained business model (The basic allotment the state provide per child hasn't even remotely kept up with inflation). Why is he diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools, but they are held to a completely different standard? Why are they being funded on enrollment #'s as opposed to average daily enrollment #'s like public ed? If you went through the public education system you should be questioning the same. This example is just one of many! I am as fiscally as conservative as they come, but when you pop up the hood of public education in the State of Texas and what this current administration is doing to subvert the efforts of districts across the state we need to seriously evaluate who we put in office because there will be unintended consequences. (Note: This state has $28.5 BILLION in rainy day funds).

***MORE HOUSES BEING BUILT IN BRYAN DOESNT MEAN THE DISTRICT MAKES MORE MONEY***

Also, don't conflate the federal or local governments with public education. Bryan ISD actually balanced its budget which tells me they aren't operating with their head in the sand and is likely using the VATRE as a springboard to increase teacher pay and attract TALENT to its district whereby CHANGING ITS REPUATION that has long been the whisper in the corner at dinner parties of why people won't raise their families in Bryan.

The teaching profession is already on life support, and I've never been a part of a successful organization that didn't have adequate funding. You want to cut out the knees of something? Cut its funding and then gas light the public into believing they don't deserve it.

I have 3 kids in the district and pay taxes just like the rest. I chuckle sometimes when I hear people say "I don't have kids in the district so why should I?? Perspective should matter that somewhere in your lifetime a generation before you decided it should do something that is beneficial to its public education system that likely cost them some money, but they saw the greater good. It's my turn now and I'll proudly be voting YES for Proposition A and if it means I have to skip going through Chick Fil A once a month then so be it.



I always ask these questions when someone says that education is severely underfunded…how much more should be funded for education? How much should a teacher be paid? What cuts to non-teaching staff have districts cut? This doesn't apply to BCS, but why should taxpayers pay for the Taj Mahal for stadiums?

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AgLaw09
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 12:56p, 9/17/26
Vinewood_03 said:
Why is he diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools, but they are held to a completely different standard? Why are they being funded on enrollment #'s as opposed to average daily enrollment #'s like public ed?

The State does not fund private schools. Parents fund private schools by paying tuition per student. If a private school doesn't have a student to charge tuition for (in other words, get funding for) then they don't receive any funding.

I assume that these questions are instead a reference to Texas Educations Freedom Accounts (TEFAs). According to the Comptroller's Report for TEFAs, 436 students participating in the program reside in Bryan ISD. Although few, if any, of those students left BISD after the 2025-26 school year to attend a private school or be homeschooled, let's assume that each one did and that each student also received the maximum amount allowed ($10,474). Let's also assume that BISD would have received all those monies if the Governor hadn't "divert[ed] taxpayer dollars to private schools." That means that BISD would have received $4,566,664 more funding if funds hadn't been "diverted" for TEFAs.

However, that raises two issues. First, why would BISD need that money if those 436 students were no longer attending BISD? A private school gets no funding for a student who no longer attends. Why should a public school still get funding for a student who no longer attends?

Second, the "diversion" argument assumes that the money going to TEFAs comes out of funding to public schools. On the contrary, SB2 created a parallel system rather than taking money from public schools, which is one of the reasons Texas Policy Research opposed the language of the bill in its final form.

Moreover, HB2 increased the base allotment and allocated monies for permanent pay raises, which BISD proudly advertises. Those monies are not tied to the district's average daily enrollment; teachers get those allotments based on nothing more than their tenure as teachers. Those allotments get paid regardless of the quality of the instruction provided, which is just one of the driving factors behind the argument that public schools should compete for the students they educate.

Public schools perennially assert that they are underfunded and that the woes they're enduring can be solved if they can just get more money. BISD knows that $5.6 million will not satiate its desire for ever more funding. It's already spent that money. But unlike public schools, we don't have the option to raise our source of funding and are instead forced to make tough choices about where and how to reduce our spending while still meeting the needs of our families.

BISD argues that it is underfunded to which I say: Join the club.
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Rapier108
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In reply to MelvinUdall • 1:09p, 9/17/26
MelvinUdall said:
Vinewood_03 said:
I'll be voting YES and encouraging everyone else I know to do the same. The Governor of this state is purposely underfunding public education (which I believe is borderline criminal) all the while pushing costly mandates upon an already strained business model (The basic allotment the state provide per child hasn't even remotely kept up with inflation). Why is he diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools, but they are held to a completely different standard? Why are they being funded on enrollment #'s as opposed to average daily enrollment #'s like public ed? If you went through the public education system you should be questioning the same. This example is just one of many! I am as fiscally as conservative as they come, but when you pop up the hood of public education in the State of Texas and what this current administration is doing to subvert the efforts of districts across the state we need to seriously evaluate who we put in office because there will be unintended consequences. (Note: This state has $28.5 BILLION in rainy day funds).

***MORE HOUSES BEING BUILT IN BRYAN DOESNT MEAN THE DISTRICT MAKES MORE MONEY***

Also, don't conflate the federal or local governments with public education. Bryan ISD actually balanced its budget which tells me they aren't operating with their head in the sand and is likely using the VATRE as a springboard to increase teacher pay and attract TALENT to its district whereby CHANGING ITS REPUATION that has long been the whisper in the corner at dinner parties of why people won't raise their families in Bryan.

The teaching profession is already on life support, and I've never been a part of a successful organization that didn't have adequate funding. You want to cut out the knees of something? Cut its funding and then gas light the public into believing they don't deserve it.

I have 3 kids in the district and pay taxes just like the rest. I chuckle sometimes when I hear people say "I don't have kids in the district so why should I?? Perspective should matter that somewhere in your lifetime a generation before you decided it should do something that is beneficial to its public education system that likely cost them some money, but they saw the greater good. It's my turn now and I'll proudly be voting YES for Proposition A and if it means I have to skip going through Chick Fil A once a month then so be it.



I always ask these questions when someone says that education is severely underfunded…how much more should be funded for education? How much should a teacher be paid? What cuts to non-teaching staff have districts cut? This doesn't apply to BCS, but why should taxpayers pay for the Taj Mahal for stadiums?

The US already spends more on education than any other country, and yet the returns diminish year after year.

At some point, maybe people will realize it isn't a money problem.
"If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves." - Sir Winston Churchill
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Vance Refrigeration
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1:34p, 9/17/26
Quote:
***MORE HOUSES BEING BUILT IN BRYAN DOESNT MEAN THE DISTRICT MAKES MORE MONEY***

what? of course it does.

If you build a house on a previously vacant lot the property value increases and the rate applied to that property generates more revenue. They already have 6 golden pennies (not subject to recapture) and are asking for more. Also, new construction isnt used to calculate their no new revenue rate, which means they would benefit from that property value growth WITHOUT raising taxes at all.

Quote:
(The basic allotment the state provide per child hasn't even remotely kept up with inflation).

The basic allotment is not the totality of school district funding. Stop reading talking points. $8.5 billion additional dollars went in to public education last session.

Edits for updating rate and removing personal commentary
Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration
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Vinewood_03
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In reply to Vance Refrigeration • 2:31p, 9/17/26
Hey Bob. I'll use an example to clarify.....If a school district's annual budget (set by the state) is $100 and its property tax basis is $60, then the state kicks in the $40 to bridge the gap. If the property tax basis increases to $80 by either more roof tops, value increase, or by property tax rate then the state kicks in the $20. My point is that more rooftops don't mean the annual budget goes up to $150....It stays at $100. So I understand the basics.

Last legislative session the basic allotment per student increased from $6,160 to $6,215 for the first time since 2019….I think we'd both agree costs of basic goods and services has increased dramatically since 2019, not to mention health insurance, school bus drivers, hell the costs of a hamburger. Correct the basic allotment isn't the only funding source, but the other sources are earmarked and can't be spent on the above. You appear to be a business owner and I'm sure your prices went up fair to say? But to hell with that school district….

What you have is basic. Top line revenue doesn't change yet expenses outpace any hope for growth. Only lever to pull before making drastic budget cuts, programs, school closures, inadequate staffing is to pass two golden pennies. Guess the voters will decide…..
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AgLaw09
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 3:22p, 9/17/26
Vinewood_03 said:
Only lever to pull before making drastic budget cuts, programs, school closures, inadequate staffing is to pass two golden pennies. Guess the voters will decide…..


This encapsulates the problem with the discourse on public school funding. Taxpayers are told they have a Sophie's choice of 1) agree to pay even more money or 2) allow the children to suffer.

Why do the budget and program cuts have to be drastic? What schools will be closed if the VATRE fails? Who's getting fired if the VATRE fails that will result in inadequate staffing?
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GenXAg
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In reply to AgLaw09 • 3:48p, 9/17/26
You should go to a school board meeting and ask. You might be surprised by the answers they give you. They really need to do a better job of explaining their struggles with funding but the complexity of it would be hard for the average person to understand. I have family and friends that work for the district and 2 kids in it. I could write 2 or 3 paragraphs explaining why they need it and quite frankly in a lot of cases deserve it but just don't have the time.

Funding is complex and really screwed up by the state and federal government. No Child Left Behind while sounding amazing actually did much more harm than good when it comes to running a district. The rules that local districts have to follow to receive their state and federal funding is a lot of what is destroying public education.

Get the federal and to an extent state government out of public education. Let us keep that federal and state money and spend it locally according to our own values and common sense and watch the local school turn around with happier kids and employees. Problem is the Feds aren't going to let go of that cash cow. I doubt if we receive any tax relief federally even if they shuttered the Dept of Education (which they should).
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Vinewood_03
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In reply to AgLaw09 • 4:20p, 9/17/26
I didn't use the word suffer. Children will adapt to these consequences cause they (a) won't have a choice and (b) won't know any better. But, you only need to do a quick google search of public-school closures around the state of Texas to know my statement wasn't hyperbolic.

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Marlin39m
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4:55p, 9/17/26
This on the heels of putting us 400 million dollars in debt with the bond election? "We are buying all of these new things with money that you will pay on indefinitely, and now we want more to pay for the upkeep of the things that we couldn't afford." That's pretty salty.
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MelvinUdall
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In reply to Rapier108 • 4:56p, 9/17/26
Rapier108 said:
MelvinUdall said:
Vinewood_03 said:
I'll be voting YES and encouraging everyone else I know to do the same. The Governor of this state is purposely underfunding public education (which I believe is borderline criminal) all the while pushing costly mandates upon an already strained business model (The basic allotment the state provide per child hasn't even remotely kept up with inflation). Why is he diverting taxpayer dollars to private schools, but they are held to a completely different standard? Why are they being funded on enrollment #'s as opposed to average daily enrollment #'s like public ed? If you went through the public education system you should be questioning the same. This example is just one of many! I am as fiscally as conservative as they come, but when you pop up the hood of public education in the State of Texas and what this current administration is doing to subvert the efforts of districts across the state we need to seriously evaluate who we put in office because there will be unintended consequences. (Note: This state has $28.5 BILLION in rainy day funds).

***MORE HOUSES BEING BUILT IN BRYAN DOESNT MEAN THE DISTRICT MAKES MORE MONEY***

Also, don't conflate the federal or local governments with public education. Bryan ISD actually balanced its budget which tells me they aren't operating with their head in the sand and is likely using the VATRE as a springboard to increase teacher pay and attract TALENT to its district whereby CHANGING ITS REPUATION that has long been the whisper in the corner at dinner parties of why people won't raise their families in Bryan.

The teaching profession is already on life support, and I've never been a part of a successful organization that didn't have adequate funding. You want to cut out the knees of something? Cut its funding and then gas light the public into believing they don't deserve it.

I have 3 kids in the district and pay taxes just like the rest. I chuckle sometimes when I hear people say "I don't have kids in the district so why should I?? Perspective should matter that somewhere in your lifetime a generation before you decided it should do something that is beneficial to its public education system that likely cost them some money, but they saw the greater good. It's my turn now and I'll proudly be voting YES for Proposition A and if it means I have to skip going through Chick Fil A once a month then so be it.



I always ask these questions when someone says that education is severely underfunded…how much more should be funded for education? How much should a teacher be paid? What cuts to non-teaching staff have districts cut? This doesn't apply to BCS, but why should taxpayers pay for the Taj Mahal for stadiums?

The US already spends more on education than any other country, and yet the returns diminish year after year.

At some point, maybe people will realize it isn't a money problem.


Oh, I agree…but that is why I ask the questions I do when someone votes for more taxes as it relates to education.
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AgLaw09
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 5:02p, 9/17/26
BISD's VATRE won't fund other public school districts. So the question remains, what BISD schools will close if the VATRE fails?

Moreover, BISD is not making any of those assertions in its VATRE literature. The main item BISD highlights for the use is for salary increases. But again, permanent pay raises ranging from $2,500-$5,000 were provide in HB2 last year. That's in addition to the base allotment increase that was also part of HB2.

BISD has no where claimed that the requested tax increase is necessary to stave off austerity measures. It's to add to the spending.
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Vinewood_03
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In reply to Marlin39m • 5:09p, 9/17/26
The VATRE will go towards compensation and retaining student programs. Not servicing "all the new" or "upkeep of the things we couldn't afford".

The $400,000,000 Bond will go towards new facilities and equipment that are well past their useful life. The school district was able to do this without increasing the I&S portion of the tax rate because they were so frugal in the past in managing their debt.

I'm leaving the link here in hopes that everyone will at least know the facts before they just vote NO.

2026 VATRE | Bryan ISD
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Vance Refrigeration
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 5:35p, 9/17/26
Vinewood_03 said:
Hey Bob. I'll use an example to clarify.....If a school district's annual budget (set by the state) is $100 and its property tax basis is $60, then the state kicks in the $40 to bridge the gap. If the property tax basis increases to $80 by either more roof tops, value increase, or by property tax rate then the state kicks in the $20. My point is that more rooftops don't mean the annual budget goes up to $150....It stays at $100. So I understand the basics.

Last legislative session the basic allotment per student increased from $6,160 to $6,215 for the first time since 2019….I think we'd both agree costs of basic goods and services has increased dramatically since 2019, not to mention health insurance, school bus drivers, hell the costs of a hamburger. Correct the basic allotment isn't the only funding source, but the other sources are earmarked and can't be spent on the above. You appear to be a business owner and I'm sure your prices went up fair to say? But to hell with that school district….

What you have is basic. Top line revenue doesn't change yet expenses outpace any hope for growth. Only lever to pull before making drastic budget cuts, programs, school closures, inadequate staffing is to pass two golden pennies. Guess the voters will decide…..


Youre ignoring golden pennies. 100% of the increased revenue collected on those pennies increases the district's available revenue- exactlythe oppositeof what you claimed. Im sorry, I know more than the teacher union FAQ youre reading from.

Its entirely possible to advocate for more school district funding without misleading people and without unfounded doomsday scenarios.
Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration
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Vinewood_03
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In reply to Vance Refrigeration • 8:56a, 9/18/26
My initial statement was to establish a basic framework and dispel a common misunderstanding amongst the masses. I'm trying to explain addition and subtraction and you're moving on to calculous. There was no intention to deceive much like I didn't mention public ed receives funding from federal and grant areas as well. So put away the pitchfork. It's not a conspiracy and from what I can tell Bryan ISD has been transparent about the impact the VATRE will have to the budget overall despite whatever I didn't elaborate on.

It speaks to a bigger picture issue. Finance in public Ed is difficult to follow which invites naysayers to poke holes and throw stones and the slightest idea of a district asking for money. Yes, HB2 addressed teacher compensation for tenured staff, but there is more to running a school than just teachers.....Bus drivers, nurses, custodial staff, counselors, etc....My point is cost have gone up since 2019. And the $45 increase in the basic allotment is like your boss giving you $20 for your Christmas bonus. Is it good? Sure, more money always is....but did it really do anything?

The district needs a raise and I vote we give it to them.



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AgLaw09
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 1:59p, 9/18/26
Vinewood_03 said:
The district needs a raise and I vote we give it to them.


But this was not the point being made in prior posts. Your first post complained of cuts to funding. Your third post ended with a doomsday scenario if the VATRE lever isn't pulled. Your fourth post asserted that children will adapt to those doomsday scenarios because they won't have a choice and won't know any better. Now the argument is that BISD needs a raise.

There have also been statements made that public school funding is too complex. BISD could have chosen to address and explain those complexities in its VATRE literature, but I didn't.

Instead BISD chose to omit from the ballot language the alternate M&O tax rate which would have educated the voter on the actual choice with which they're being presented, emphasize that the increase is only 2 cents, and intentionally appeal to 65+ voters by pointing out that a "Yes" vote on the VATRE will have zero affect on them (slide 12 of the presentation) knowing that that age demographic is usually more represented in election turnout.

What none of that literature explains is why BISD needs a raise. Why is there nowhere from which spending can be reduced to allow for increased spending on compensation? Why should BISD be immune from having to do what almost every taxpayer is being called upon to do?

BISD's VATRE literature is not education, it's advocacy through obfuscation.
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Boozer92
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In reply to Vinewood_03 • 5:03p, 9/18/26
AG
Vinewood_03 said:
Hey Bob. I'll use an example to clarify.....If a school district's annual budget (set by the state) is $100 and its property tax basis is $60, then the state kicks in the $40 to bridge the gap. If the property tax basis increases to $80 by either more roof tops, value increase, or by property tax rate then the state kicks in the $20. My point is that more rooftops don't mean the annual budget goes up to $150....It stays at $100. So I understand the basics.


So you saying if the citizens of Bryan agree to this tax increase it won't change the budget of BISD because the state will just decrease funding to compensate? Doesn't sound right and if so why would anyone support this?
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LOYAL AG
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8:02a, 9/19/26
AG
From the OP. Everything you need to know about to vote "no" on this.

Quote:
Second, according to BISD's Summary of Proposed Budget, 49% of the district's total budget for 2026-27 will go to Instruction (in other words, classroom teaching).


49% for your core purpose. About 10 years ago I did some research on historical budgets at CSISD on exactly this metric. Guess what I found? 20 years earlier so mid-90's CSISD was spending 70% of their budget on Instruction. In 2015 the proposed budget showed 56%. At 49% or even 56% it's fair to ask what we're funding because it ain't education anymore. Administration is growing while the actual teaching part of education is shrinking. That's not ok.

All ISD bonds and taxes rates should be voted down until the teaching part of the budgets gets back to that 70% range. Do your job before asking me for more money.

Why is the governor creating grants to families for alternatives? That's why. ISD can't be trusted to spend our education dollars on education.
"The goal of socialism is communism." - Vladimir Lenin
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taxpreparer
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9:24p, 9/19/26
AG
Is the 0.27 for interest for bonds that were previously promoted as not increasing taxes?
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LOYAL AG
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8:01a, 9/20/26
AG
Update to my post above.

I pulled CSISD and Bryan ISD approved budgets for 26-27 and as a percentage of their general funds they're at 56.5% and 60% respectively for the Instructional category with additional line items for things like professional development. So basically my 56% v 49% above wasn't apples to apples and this post is. Bryan was reporting against total spend.

I still don't think that's adequate and it's substantially different than the 70% that existed 30 years ago. At the level of spending of current day Bryan that's $18M+ that's NOT going to their core purpose and to me that's not acceptable.

Let's also acknowledge that Bryan ISD is smaller last year Than the year before. Numbers for 26-27 aren't out yet I don't think. 24-25 was 15,998 vs 15,653 for 25-26. That's a 2% drop in the number of students served but they need a tax increase to fuel a growth in the budget. What am I missing?

Bryan voters, do with that what you will.
"The goal of socialism is communism." - Vladimir Lenin
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BarbellRodeo
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9:06a, 9/20/26
To respond to a few of the points above:
Educational budgeting is confusing and largely affected by state policy. The state determines the amount they pay per student, and then that amount is collected through property taxes set by a local vote. If you collect more than that amount it is likely subject to recapture (Robin Hood), and if you collect less than that amount, the state pays the remaining balance. We fall under the latter.
However, there are gold and copper Pennie's that local districts can leverage to generate more revenue. Gold Pennies which are what BISD is asking for are not subject to recapture and you're allowed up to 8 of those. BISD currently has 6. They have no copper pennies. All of the local tax revenue stays in Bryan AND the state pays an additional $3 million for a total of $5.5 million per year until the government decides to change how schools are funded.
The reasons why they need these funds aren't deceptive or a result of misusing tax dollars. They are audited regularly to check for misuse despite what Greg Abbot tells you. When the state issues a mandate like increased security due to the Uvalde tragedy, they said you have to do x,y, and z and we'll give you a set amount of money to cover those costs. And that amount doesn't cover the entire costs of that mandate. The district is left to cover the rest. Same goes with transportation. Districts only get funded to pick up children who fall under the sped umbrella, but would likely see attendance drop considerably if they didn't pick up the rest of the students that don't live within walking distance. And that brings me to how schools actually get paid. It's not a set amount based on enrollment, but it's based on daily attendance. So when kids don't show up, districts don't get paid for them that day and if you have 90% attendance, you just lost 10% of your expected revenue and have to figure out where that comes from.
So if you wonder why the percentage of money spent for classroom education has decreased, it's largely due to things outside of the districts' control.
Why do districts need more money? The answer isn't complicated and is a large reason why many of you are hesitant to vote for this. Everything costs more now than it did 7 years ago. Until this year, 7 years ago was the last time districts got a raise from the state in terms of how much per student they would receive. This year they got $55 per student which was substantially less than the amount of inflation over that same time period.
Many of you have asked what BISD is doing to tighten their belt, and I can assure you the belt is extremely tight and at the point where it shouldn't be tightened more. When positions have been vacated through retirement or leaving the district, many have not been refilled. This includes assistant principals and other admin roles. Department budgets have also decreased to a laughable amount. Say what you want about public schools, but your tax dollars have been judiciously spent.
The last bond was strictly for building updates, and while yes it means there's a debt the district has to pay with your tax dollars for longer, it didn't raise the tax rate.
The VATRE is for the maintenance and operations budget and can only be spent on things like wages, academic programs, etc. The buildings for some schools are embarrassingly outdated and in disrepair and it was a much needed bond, but the district cannot take money from the previous bond and use it for M&O purposes. Those are two separate pots, and they must be used for their intended purpose because they were voted into place. That's part of what those audits check for that I mentioned earlier.
All of this to say, please know what you're voting for or against in this upcoming election. Whether that be for the bond, a local, state, or national election. Who and what you vote for matters. I encourage you to talk to teachers and admin at these schools before making up your mind
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LOYAL AG
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In reply to BarbellRodeo • 9:29a, 9/20/26
AG
BarbellRodeo said:
To respond to a few of the points above:
Educational budgeting is confusing and largely affected by state policy. The state determines the amount they pay per student, and then that amount is collected through property taxes set by a local vote. If you collect more than that amount it is likely subject to recapture (Robin Hood), and if you collect less than that amount, the state pays the remaining balance. We fall under the latter.
However, there are gold and copper Pennie's that local districts can leverage to generate more revenue. Gold Pennies which are what BISD is asking for are not subject to recapture and you're allowed up to 8 of those. BISD currently has 6. They have no copper pennies. All of the local tax revenue stays in Bryan AND the state pays an additional $3 million for a total of $5.5 million per year until the government decides to change how schools are funded.
The reasons why they need these funds aren't deceptive or a result of misusing tax dollars. They are audited regularly to check for misuse despite what Greg Abbot tells you. When the state issues a mandate like increased security due to the Uvalde tragedy, they said you have to do x,y, and z and we'll give you a set amount of money to cover those costs. And that amount doesn't cover the entire costs of that mandate. The district is left to cover the rest. Same goes with transportation. Districts only get funded to pick up children who fall under the sped umbrella, but would likely see attendance drop considerably if they didn't pick up the rest of the students that don't live within walking distance. And that brings me to how schools actually get paid. It's not a set amount based on enrollment, but it's based on daily attendance. So when kids don't show up, districts don't get paid for them that day and if you have 90% attendance, you just lost 10% of your expected revenue and have to figure out where that comes from.
So if you wonder why the percentage of money spent for classroom education has decreased, it's largely due to things outside of the districts' control.
Why do districts need more money? The answer isn't complicated and is a large reason why many of you are hesitant to vote for this. Everything costs more now than it did 7 years ago. Until this year, 7 years ago was the last time districts got a raise from the state in terms of how much per student they would receive. This year they got $55 per student which was substantially less than the amount of inflation over that same time period.
Many of you have asked what BISD is doing to tighten their belt, and I can assure you the belt is extremely tight and at the point where it shouldn't be tightened more. When positions have been vacated through retirement or leaving the district, many have not been refilled. This includes assistant principals and other admin roles. Department budgets have also decreased to a laughable amount. Say what you want about public schools, but your tax dollars have been judiciously spent.
The last bond was strictly for building updates, and while yes it means there's a debt the district has to pay with your tax dollars for longer, it didn't raise the tax rate.
This bond is for the maintenance and operations budget and can only be spent on things like wages, academic programs, etc. The buildings for some schools are embarrassingly outdated and in disrepair and it was a much needed bond, but the district cannot take money from the previous bond and use it for M&O purposes. Those are two separate pots, and they must be used for their intended purpose because they were voted into place. That's part of what those audits check for that I mentioned earlier.
All of this to say, please know what you're voting for or against in this upcoming election. Whether that be for the bond, a local, state, or national election. Who and what you vote for matters. I encourage you to talk to teachers and admin at these schools before making up your mind


Genuinely appreciate all of that. Couple of things:

- if actual funding is impacted by daily attendance I would assume the district doesn't budget for full attendance but rather some percentage based on historical averages. Budgeting 100% when you know it won't happen is naive. That seems obvious so if that's not happening maybe we need a better CFO.

- Bonds for Operations sounds like a bad idea. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. I heard debt financing of day to day operating costs. Help me out here.

- How much of transportation costs are due to bussing kids past one school to another that's further from their home because that satisfies something other than placing kids in their closest school? CSISD busses a significant number of kids across town to spread out the kids from poorer neighborhoods so that no one campus has a disproportionate subset of that population. I assume all districts do this but how many more kids could walk if they were attending schools that are the closest to their neighborhood? Is this good or bad is a bit of a different conversation.

On the bigger picture, teachers retention is the #1 challenge to districts and it's no longer a funding issue but one of discipline or the complete lack thereof. What in the budgets is going to address that? My wife was a teacher for 24 years, she actually quit 4 years shy of retirement because the system is so broken. Quit. Just walked away, tired of admin that weren't effective leaders or disciplinarians. You could have given her a 20% raise and she'd have left. To me this is the biggest issue we have and I don't really see anything happening to address it.

Appreciate the additional context with regard to funding.
"The goal of socialism is communism." - Vladimir Lenin
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Vinewood_03
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In reply to LOYAL AG • 9:49a, 9/20/26
Bonds can't go towards salaries or M&O…Only facilities and improvements (I think this was just a mis-type by BarBell cause everything else was accurate). Also, districts technically aren't required to provide transportation for students (handicap possibly) and many school districts around the state are charging for transportation.

Student decline means less funding; however, schools still have to open the doors for business so many of the fixed costs remain the same. Schools can't close early for the day just because a few students didn't show up.
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BarbellRodeo
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In reply to LOYAL AG • 10:10a, 9/20/26
I could have used a better example for attendance. No, BISD and I imagine all of the districts across the state base their average daily attendance on historical numbers rather than 100% when creating their budget. However, even then it can substantially change within a given year.

I misspoke. I should have said VATRE instead of bond. M&O doesn't come from debt, but the elections for each are similar.

I can't speak on why CSISD does what they do as far as their zoning goes, but if a student is in a certain program that is only offered at one school then I believe the district takes them. It's only at that one school to help reduce costs though, so I imagine bussing the handful of students is cheaper than trying to staff the program in multiple campuses.

BISD and CSISD both pay about 10k less than districts within commuting distance. So part of that teacher retention is pay. Another part is classroom support like you mentioned, and when you reduce APs, Instructional coaches, and teachers/paras for those known behavior problems, it causes a lot of issues downstream that make school life more miserable for everyone. However, the state audits how many kids get ISS, DAEP, etc, but I'm not sure what the penalty is if you have more placements than allowed/recommended. There are also a lot of legal requirements for being able to place a student in ISS or DAEP if they fall under the sped umbrella. The campus/district's hands get tied in certain situations. As far as being able to help with teacher morale, attracting and employing a full staff would help with that.

Thanks for the questions!
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