KIRBYVILLE, Texas — Kirbyville Consolidated Independent School District is proposing a tax rate election that would increase pay for teachers and staff.
This tax rate election is similar to the one Beaumont ISD has on the ballot.
If Kirbyville CISD's tax rate election passes, more than $830,000 will be added to the district's budget.
"We project to spend more than we take in in tax revenue which is one of the things that prompted me to recommend this path," said Superintendent Stephen Edwards.
Over the summer, Kirbyville CISD raised returning staff pay by 3%.
"According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the cost of living last year in December of 2023 went up 3.2%. So we're not even keeping up with inflation," Edwards said.
That raise lead to a projected deficit of $900,000, so the district was forced to make cuts.
"We made cuts this year. We did an efficiency audit, for the school district trying to look for places where we can save money. But we cut positions that were not teaching positions. But an administration position and a paraprofessional position," said Edwards.
That got the deficit down to $585,000.
"We really need to be concerned. When you have a deficit like that. That's a lot of money. It doesn't sound like much but in the school district it's a lot of money," said Kirbyville resident Bob Chandler.
The goal of this tax rate election is to balance the district's budget.
"This is a voter approval tax rate election for maintenance and operations. On the day to day expenses and 70% of our budget is paying staff," Edwards told 12News.
The tax rate election would continue to increase pay for teachers like Brad Long.
"Well again, it's a 24/7 job and it is takes a toll and it is tiring," said Long. "It really would go a long way if salaries would continue to go up. Just to help teachers, you know, make it."
Bob Chandler is a retired teacher and Kirbyville resident. He says despite the slight tax increase, he'll vote in favor of the proposition.
"Small school districts are just always in a bind. And they're not asking for much. It's not gonna hurt the people over 65 years of age. I encourage everybody to get out and support the school district," said Chandler.
“We put money in the bank to save for rainy day and we’ve had a rainy day at this point. And so we would take the money out of our emergency fund to cover the deficit and probably try this again next year," said Edwards.
In order to vote on the measure, residents in Jasper and Newton County who live in the Kirbyville school district will have to vote at the district administration building.
Kirbyville CISD joins Beaumont ISD and several districts across the state in their request for voters to pass a voter-approved tax rate election or VATRE.
The requests come as the state has failed to raise school funding since 2019.