In a move to bolster teacher pay, the Judson Independent School District (JISD) board has unearthed a previously little-known tactic to modify its tax rate, successfully increasing its general fund by $12 million. The board's unanimous decision, made possible by the inclusion of "disaster pennies" under state law, has paved the way for a 1% salary increase for teachers, librarians, counselors, and nurses. "We're in a tough environment, but this will actually help sustain us for a year," trustee José Macias told the board during a workshop, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News.
The strategy comes in the wake of severe weather and flooding that hit the region, qualifying the district to raise its tax rate without an election. A meticulous examination by Judson ISD's new chief financial officer, Larry Guerra, confirmed that the district's response to the weather incident, including man hours spent assessing damages, was enough to justify the application of disaster pennies. Despite the adjustment, which slightly drops the overall tax rate from $1.035 to $1.033 per $100 assessed value, trustees have managed to directly support educators without significantly burdening taxpayers.
According to KSAT, this pay increase will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year, bringing the starting salary for teachers up to $60,933. Additionally, all other staff members are set to receive a one-time $500 incentive payment in December. The JISD superintendent, Dr. Fields, expressed his gratitude: "We are grateful for the unwavering dedication of our teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, and all support staff."
The Texas Education Agency notes that, under the provision, districts affected by disasters declared by the governor can legally increase their tax rate without calling for a public vote. This has sparked some concern among trustees like Monica Ryan, who had labeled the plan "fiscally irresponsible," worried about the long-term impact on the district’s debt interest and the use of what she termed a loophole. However, Dr. Fields countered this position, stating, "This isn't a loophole and this isn't us trying to find a way to do something we're not supposed to do," as noted by the San Antonio Express-News.
In response to the previous reluctance to raise pay, Priscilla Alfaro, the district’s director of secondary curriculum, addressed the board with her decision to resign, seeking more competitive compensation elsewhere. This underscored the broader challenge Judson ISD faces in retaining talent in an increasingly competitive market, as local districts like Northside, San Antonio, and others are similarly opting to dig deeper into budgets to offer salary increases.
