A Universe of opportUnity for every Child - Austin ISD

e s o U r C e s Provide strategic alignment and sound stewardship of resources,
including funding, personnel, technology, and facilities.
31
Taking Your Taxes to school
2007-2008 district Budget
In 2005, Texas school districts entered
a brave new fiscal world, as a result
of legislative changes in funding for
public education. While the shortterm
impact includes an infusion of
new state money, and a reduction in
the local property tax rates, it has quickly
become evident to Texas school officials
and the public that the longer-term
implication of these changes will require
strategic decisions, if both students
and taxpayers who foot the bills are
to be served in the years to come.
The Austin School District appears to
be well-positioned to manage these
difficult decisions.
With approval from the Board of
Trustees, and input from both the
District Advisory Council and the
Budget Advisory Committee, the
Austin School District will operate
in 2007-2008 with a budget totaling
$862.9 million.
The Budget includes funding for the
District’s General Fund, Food Service
operations, and bond debt repayment. It
provides a 3.9 percent salary increase
for all employees, as well as $418 per
month for employee health insurance
coverage. The starting salary for a
first-year, bachelor-degreed teacher,
who participated in pre-service training,
will be $40,240.
To fund District operations, Trustees
approved a 2007-2008 tax rate of $1.04
per $100 valuation for Maintenance
& Operations, and $.123 for debt
service, for a total tax rate of $1.163,
reduced from last year’s combined
rate of $1.493 per $100 valuation.
Salaries and benefits–health insurance
and retirement – for approximately
11,500 employees represent the biggest
expenditure, and account for nearly
74 percent of the District’s new budget.
Most of the rest of the Budget is a
continuation and acceleration of best
practices that are helping the District
achieve success as a diverse school
system, including professional development,
instructional support, and
student support services.
Increased utility and fuel costs are
also absorbed in the Budget.
2007-2008 central Texas property Tax rates
central Texas 2007-2008 Tasa de impuestos a la propiedad
district/distrito m&o i&s Total
austin isd 1.04000 0.12300 1.16300
del valle isd 1.04000 0.44000 1.48000
eanes isd 1.04000 0.16250 1.20250
hayes isd 1.04000 0.42130 1.46130
lago vista isd 1.04000 0.16000 1.20000
lake Travis isd 1.04000 0.31850 1.35850
leander isd 1.00580 0.32760 1.33340
manor isd 1.02000 0.49500 1.51500
pflugerville isd 1.04000 0.43000 1.47000
round rock isd 1.01710 0.30670 1.32380