Although Tioga ISD sets its budget for a June 1 start, the tax rate that largely funds it cannot be set until August.
Tioga ISD's tax rate will be $1.2206 per $100 valuation for 2027, which is comprised of the state's compressed rate of $0.7206 for the maintenance and operation side of the budget and the district's 50-cent debt service rate, as was described at the Monday board meeting.
'Our obligations [on the debt service] side is about a million,' Superintendent Josh Ballinger said. 'That'll generate about $1,150,000, and that extra $150,000 is going to go towards eventually building up that fund balance and paying off debt. We're still in the negative on the debt service account, but that's on paper. Real money, cash on hand, we're in good shape.'
That good shape was reflected in the district's preliminary passing FIRST rating, announced by the state on Aug. 7.
Texas Education Agency Conservator Dr. Karen Wiesman shared that good news with the trustees and the crowd: Tioga ISD passed the FIRST rating for the 2024-25 school year with a 70.
During the discussion about the tax rate, Ballinger noted that taxable value in the district was 'down by about $21 million.'
'Where we need to see improvement is the total taxable value of new property that was slightly down as well, primarily because of the new homestead exemptions that were from last year and obviously carried over— $11.5 million on new property down to just $10 million on taxable value,' Ballinger said.
He also explained that the district still owes $18 million on the lease for the high school, in addition to a general obligation debt of about $8 million for the high school that was moved over because of the May 2024 bond election and about $4.5 million for the Tioga School campus.
He added that '$12.7 [million] is what is still on the correct side of the equation, compared to what other districts are asking and going out for.'
'Even if you combine the two, at about a little over $30 million, you still have a lot of building, a lot of space, a lot of room for growth, especially in property,' Ballinger said. 'Good shape for the future.'
During her report, Wiesman also gave the trustees further counsel on how to keep correcting the district's financial position to keep it out of future danger with the state.
Ballinger also spoke about the A that the district received in the state accountability rating system.
The district did not get the distinction for college, career and military readiness.
'We're considered a single-campus district in TEA's eyes,' Ballinger said. '... When you are a single campus district, you are not eligible for certain distinctions, and that's one of them as a district.'
He commented on the district's progress in the school progress measure.
'Where we jumped ahead of what we normally score this year was pulling up pretty well Cs in that area to two Bs in the school progress area,' Ballinger said.
The district also did well in comparison to the region.
'We're in some pretty elite company when it comes to an overall score in the Top 10 districts in the area,' Ballinger said. 'That's anywhere from south DFW on around to east and this top quarter of the state where we're Top 10, and there are a lot of fantastic schools we're in there with, regardless of classification.'
TEA Commissioner Mike Morath sent 'a positive letter' to the district in light of its improved ratings.
Also at the meeting, the trustees accepted Holly Mizer’s resignation from her seat on the board.
'Shout out, Holly, for doing great things,' President Dallas Slay said. 'We appreciate your ... efforts.'
The trustees also appointed Judith Owens to fill the seat James Hurt vacated in July.
Also at the meeting, the board voted to renew the good cause exemption for the District Defender/ Guardian Program and to approve team sport officiating as a CTE course.
