School Board Sets Tax Rate; Approves Staff Payment

The Carroll School Board voted unanimously to keep the same tax rate as last year during a regular monthly meeting Monday. The rate – $1.415 per $100 assessed valuation – is based on a Maintenance & Operations rate of $1.04 and an Interest & Sinking rate of $.375. The rate will fund not only the district’s debt service, but also the $82 million operating budget approved by Trustees last month. The Board will utilize some one-time federal funds to help offset the deficit as they continue to work through an Expenditure Reduction Plan to address an $8 million state funding loss over the next biennium.

In other action Monday, Trustees voted to give CISD employees a one-time supplemental check timed before the winter break in December. The Board agreed to give all full-time employees an extra $650 check. Eligible part-time employees (to be eligible, employees must work at least 10 hours, but less than 20 hours per week) will get $325 in a one-time check.

The supplemental payment was made possible by a Board resolution adopted in late June. Trustees said although they could not give employee pay increases in light of the budget situation, they wanted to recognize the job employees are doing to help ensure a quality education for students in the community. They utilized a $683,952 Oncor energy rebate check to fund the supplemental payment.

Although the Board approved the measure unanimously 5-0, it will require a budget amendment at a future meeting. Trustees Read Ballew and Fred Stovall were unable to attend the meeting.