TRE Stories TRE Projects: September 2017 Updates
2015 Tax Ratification Election (TRE)
As our school district continues to experience growth in enrollment and improvement in academic achievement, Harlingen CISD must position itself to remain the district of choice with world-class facilities. In the spring of 2014, our district adopted the strategic plan, which included participation of over 800 school community members, as a course of action for our district for the next five years. As we approach our second year of implementation, we now extend our opportunity to strategically plan for HCISD’s future financial needs.
In response, voters will have the opportunity on September 12 to vote on a Tax Ratification Election or TRE, which was approved by the Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees during their regular board meeting held on July 14, 2015.
If passed, the TRE would generate approximately $5.8 million in state funds and another $4.2 million in local funds, bringing the annual total to $10 million. These additional funds would allow the district to address facility needs through replacements and upgrades without incurring debt.
Dear HCISD Family,
Our school district continues to experience growth in enrollment and academic achievement. For that reason, Harlingen CISD must position itself to remain the district of choice with world-class facilities. Our district adopted the strategic plan, Transforming Learning for Global Achievement, in the spring of 2014, which included the participation of over 800 school community members and set the course of action for our district for the next five years. As we approach our second year of implementation and have recently refinanced our bonds successfully, we now extend our opportunity to strategically plan for HCISD’s future financial needs.
In response, voters will have the opportunity on September 12, 2015 to vote in a Tax Ratification Election or TRE, which was approved by the Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees during their regular board meeting held on July 14th. Voter approval of the TRE will generate approximately $5.8 million in state funds and another $4.2 million in local funds, bringing the total to $10 million annually to address replacements and upgrades at our campuses and facilities.
A TRE is a proactive approach that, with voter approval, will allow Harlingen CISD to access the maximum amount of state funds. If the TRE passes, the District will be able to focus the additional funding on replacement and upgrades of our facilities and equipment without incurring long-term debt. We have identified many areas of need across our district, and expect that the additional funding that would result from the passage of the TRE will have a positive district-wide impact.
At Harlingen CISD we are fortunate to have board members, staff, and community members actively involved in all of our efforts to position HCISD favorably in its mission to provide educational excellence. We view the upcoming TRE as an opportunity for our school community to give us their input, by voting for or against the tax rate adopted by the Board. From August 26th to September 8th our community will have the opportunity to participate in the early voting process, and regular Election Day voting will take place on September 12th.
Additional presentations and times are forthcoming. For a complete list of needs, impact to homeowners, and for more information, please see the TRE page.
On behalf of HCISD, I thank you for your continued support in creating a world-class system for our students and I encourage you to go out and vote!
Respectfully,
Art Cavazos, Ed.D.
HCISD Superintendent of Schools
|
Early Votes Cast |
Polling Place Bonham |
Polling Place Bowie |
Polling Place Crockett |
Polling Place Dishman |
Polling Place Long |
Polling Place Milam |
Polling Place Stuart |
Polling Place Treasure Hills |
Polling Place Wilson |
Polling Place Zavala |
Total Election Day |
Total Votes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For
|
918 |
32 |
41 |
10 |
4 |
61 |
8 |
72 |
76 |
34 |
22 |
362 |
1280 |
Against
|
441 |
42 |
39 |
12 |
25 |
112 |
9 |
159 |
179 |
80 |
37 |
694 |
1135 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Votes |
1359 |
74 |
80 |
22 |
31 |
173 |
17 |
231 |
255 |
114 |
59 |
1056 |
2415 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent For |
67% |
43% |
51% |
46% |
19% |
35% |
47% |
31% |
30% |
30% |
37% |
34% |
53% |
Percent Against |
33% |
57% |
49% |
55% |
81% |
65% |
53% |
69% |
70% |
70% |
67% |
66% |
47% |
POLLING PLACES |
SCHOOL ELECTION PRECINCTS |
---|---|
Bonham Elementary 2400 East Jefferson |
31,32 |
Bowie Elementary 309 West Lincoln |
41,103,104 |
Crockett Elementary 1406 West Jefferson |
39 |
Dishman Elementary 309 Madeley Avenue |
Parts of 57, 87 |
Long Elementary 2601 North 7th |
56,84,78 Parts 57,87 |
Ben Milam Elementary 1215 Rangerville Road |
43 Parts of 36 |
Stuart Place Elementary 6701 Business 83 |
26,29,58,85 Parts of 28, 36, 64,80 |
Treasure Hills Elementary 2525 Haine Drive |
30, 34, 44, 79 |
Wilson Elementary 16495 Primera Road |
27, Parts of 28, 64, 80 |
Zavala Elementary 1111 North B |
33, 35, 42 |
A TRE is an opportunity for voters to approve or disapprove the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees, and if passed, will allow Harlingen CISD to access the maximum amount of state funds to focus on replacement and upgrades of our facilities and equipment without incurring long-term debt.
According to Texas Law, school districts are required to hold an election for voters to approve an adopted tax rate that exceeds the rollback rate, or which increases the Maintenance and Operations or M&O component of the total tax rate.
The proposed tax rate adjustment is an increase to the M&O and a decrease to the Interest and Sinking or I&S component of the total tax rate. M&O funds the maintenance and operations of schools, and I&S pays for any bond debt that may have been issued to fund the construction of schools and facilities.
The TRE will allow the voters of Harlingen to give the district their input on the tax rates that fund their schools. Twenty-two school districts in the region have already approved a TRE and have been accessing these additional state funds as early as 2006.
In May, the district saved over 8 million dollars by refinancing a portion of their long-term school bonds, which resulted in an estimated decrease of 3 cents in the I&S fund. In return, the district has an opportunity to reallocate these savings to the M&O through a TRE. If the TRE passes, the District will leverage these recent savings and receive much-needed additional funds which the District will dedicate to improvements on each campus based on the areas of greatest need.
Voter approval of the TRE will generate approximately 5.8 million dollars in state funds and another 4.2 million dollars in local funds, bringing the total to ten million dollars annually to address replacements and upgrades at HCISD campuses.