East Central ISD voters will find a local school funding question near the end of their November ballot, and understanding the proposal means looking closely at both the tax-rate numbers and what the district says the additional funding would support.

Proposition A is a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, asking voters whether East Central ISD may adopt a higher Maintenance and Operations tax rate. It is not a bond election and would not authorize new bond debt.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting scheduled from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. The voter registration deadline for the election is Oct. 5.

What Would Prop A Fund?

According to East Central ISD, approval of Proposition A is projected to provide approximately $8.47 million in additional annual funding. The district estimates that would include about $5.37 million in additional local revenue and approximately $3.1 million in additional state funding.

ECISD says the additional operating revenue would be used for employee compensation and performance-based pay, school safety personnel and security measures, student programs, staffing tied to enrollment growth, maintaining or reducing class sizes and other day-to-day operating needs.

The proposal would increase ECISD’s Maintenance and Operations, or M&O, tax rate from $0.6669 to $0.7041 per $100 of taxable value. At the same time, the district’s Board of Trustees lowered the Interest and Sinking, or I&S, tax rate from $0.2650 to $0.2279.

Taken together, the district’s total tax rate would move from $0.9319 to $0.9320 per $100 of taxable value if Proposition A is approved. ECISD describes that difference as one-hundredth of a penny.

Why Does the Ballot Say 8.98%?

The ballot language states that the proposed rate would result in an 8.98% increase in Maintenance and Operations tax revenue compared with the preceding year, an additional $8,470,660.

ECISD explains that the 8.98% figure refers to the projected increase in M&O revenue, not an 8.98% increase in the district’s overall tax rate. The district’s total tax rate would instead change from $0.9319 to $0.9320 per $100 of taxable value.

What Could Prop A Mean for Homeowners?

ECISD has published tax-impact examples based on home value, taxable value and the state’s $140,000 homestead exemption.

For a home valued at $200,000, the district’s example assumes a taxable value of $60,000 after the homestead exemption. Under that example, the estimated difference compared with the 2025-26 tax rate would be 6 cents per year.

For a home valued at $340,000, ECISD uses a taxable value of $200,000 and estimates an annual difference of 20 cents. Actual tax bills may vary depending on taxable value, exemptions, appraisal information and other limitations provided by law.

ECISD also states that property taxes for qualifying homeowners age 65 or older would not be affected by Proposition A as long as the required homestead and over-65 exemptions have been filed. Under state law, school property taxes for qualifying homeowners generally cannot rise above the tax ceiling established after the owner turns 65, except in certain circumstances such as qualifying improvements to the property.

When Will East Central ISD Voters Decide?

Early voting for the Nov. 3 election begins Monday, Oct. 19, and continues through Friday, Oct. 30. The deadline to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 5.

East Central ISD has advised voters that Proposition A will appear near the end of the ballot. Residents who plan to vote on the measure will need to continue through the full ballot to reach the district proposition.

Proposition A gives East Central ISD voters a choice over how the district funds ongoing operations as enrollment, staffing, school safety and other operating costs continue to shape the district’s budget. Residents can review the district’s Proposition A materials and official election information before casting their ballots.

My Neighborhood News will continue sharing factual local election information and East Central ISD updates as the Nov. 3 election approaches.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

Local business spotlight

Grow your business
where trust already lives.

Let’s introduce your business to the neighbors nearby.

Spotlight My Business →

Have a local favorite? Recommend a business