The Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to significantly lower the property tax rate.
Although the state only required school districts provide some tax relief, the HCISD board opted to lower the property tax rate to provide the full tax relief intended by the state’s school finance bill, House Bill 3, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott this summer.
As a result of the board’s decision, Harlingen CISD’s property tax rate will be reduced from $1.318 to $1.2164 per $100 of taxable property value – a decrease of slightly more than 10 cents.
For example, Harlingen CISD residents with county-appraised property valued at $100,000 will save $100. The savings are calculated based upon the assessed taxable property value and amounts to $100 in savings per $100,000.
Harlingen CISD’s history of sound decision making, fiscal responsibility and long-range planning allowed the district to provide the full tax cut.
“The Harlingen CISD Board of Trustees continues to bear in mind fiscal responsibility, while continuously making decisions that benefit our students,” said board President Dr. Nolan Perez. “Our community has entrusted that their tax dollars are properly managed, and we are fortunate to be able to provide significant tax relief to them. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank our community for their unwavering support.”
In 2015, Harlingen CISD voters approved the Tax Ratification Election, or TRE, to fund needed school improvements and upgrades to include new district-wide security systems, surveillance cameras in elementary schools, fencing, updated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems as well as other capital improvement projects. That year, the tax rate increased by about 10 cents due to the voter-approved TRE.
The board on Tuesday voted to return the property tax rate to the previous rate set prior to the passage of the TRE, while still maintaining the current funding.
“Our healthy budget has allowed us to reduce our tax rate to about $1.22, which is lower than the tax rate we set before voters approved the TRE.” said, Perez
“I want to thank the Board of Trustees for keeping our children and staff a priority while ensuring fiscal responsibility and financial transparency to our taxpayers,” said Harlingen CISD Superintendent Dr. Art Cavazos. “Thanks to the incredible support of our community, we have been able to transform our district and create choices and opportunities for students to set them on a path for global achievement. Furthermore, I want to thank our business office and Chief Financial Officer Julio Cavazos for their continuous commitment to financial excellence at HCISD.”
Property owners within Harlingen CISD boundaries will see the reduced tax rate on their upcoming tax bill.
