DALLAS — North Texas voters rejected several school funding proposals Tuesday, dashing districts' plans to increase teacher pay and construct new buildings, potentially forcing budget cuts.
The Rockwall Independent School District asked voters to approve an $850 million bond, which would have provided raises for Rockwall ISD teachers and provided funding for infrastructure improvements, including new schools and facilities, higher teacher pay and renovations to the district's football stadium.
The new voter-approved tax rate would have increased resident's property tax rates by 25%, opponents said. Voters rejected all three propositions and the new voter-approved tax rate that would have paid for the improvements.
Sources tell WFAA that multiple teachers plan to call in sick on Wednesday, Nov. 6 to protest teacher raises failing to pass. WFAA has reached out to Rockwall ISD for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Voters in the Haltom City area rejected Birdville ISD's $48 million bond proposal which would've paid for the construction of indoor practice fields at Haltom, Birdville, and Richland High Schools.
In the Northwest Independent School District, voters were asked to approve a new tax rate that would have increased the maintenance and operations tax rate by 3 cents. The $16 million revenue bump would have closed a $15.8 million budget shortfall that may now prompt cuts to services or staff.
The district will begin to work with department and school leaders to find budget solutions, the district said in a statement. Northwest ISD will also analyze potential changes to class sizes beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, the district said.
“While we’re disappointed in the result, we understand that increases in any tax rate are challenging for taxpayers,” Northwest ISD Superintendent Mark Foust said in a statement. “Northwest ISD will continue to engage our lawmakers in the hopes that they will stop withholding funding that benefits students and teachers. School districts are facing unprecedented choices that have a direct impact on the classroom, and it’s time for our state leaders to step up and do what’s right for the 5.5 million children in Texas public schools.”
Voters living in the Argyle Independent School District rejected a $2.5 million property tax hike, also meant to close a budget shortfall, maintain current class sizes, and raise teacher pay.
Meanwhile, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD voters approved a new voter-approved tax rate, generating $6 million in additional revenue for the district to close a budget gap. About 58% of voters approved Proposition A, according to a press release from the district.
The extra money will be used for operations, instruction, staff, transportation and maintenance, the release states.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to our community for your ongoing support of our district,” Superintendent Brad Schnautz said in a release. “This community is special. I’m incredibly honored to serve alongside our dedicated employees, proud of our talented students, and grateful to the fellow parents here, where we know all of our kids are receiving an amazing education. We look forward to continuing to provide a path of success for every student."
Jeff Hall, who has two children in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, helped organize support for the proposal. He told WFAA he feared the district would cut staff from its extracurricular programs, like his daughter's band, without the tax increase.
"Band just means so much to her and has been such a part of her high school experience," Hall said. "To think these assistant directors that have been such a part of her experience may not be there - that was really motivating to me."
In Crandall ISD, voters rejected a multi-million dollar bond proposal which would have helped mitigate a budget shortfall and support staff and essential programs.
"While we are deeply disappointed with the outcome, we remain undeterred in our mission," shared Superintendent Dr. Anjanette Murry.
Dr. Murry added, “The Board of Trustees and I were in pursuit of a possible revenue source that did not garner enough support to remain a viable option. I want to assure you that our commitment has not changed and we remain steadfast to do all we can to provide increased salaries for staff, improved curriculum resources and maintain safe and secure schools.”
Crandall ISD said it has already implemented cost-saving measures, including adjusting teacher-to-student ratios and reducing certain operational expenses.
Texas has not increased per-pupil funding for public schools since 2019. Since then, inflation has blown holes in districts' budgets.
Despite a record-budget surplus, Republican leaders refused to boost public schools unless Gov. Greg Abbott's "school choice" plan also passed the legislature. In four special legislative sessions, a bipartisan coalition that opposes sending taxpayer money to private schools did not budge.
But Abbott helped protect six vulnerable Republicans and flip two Democratic seats in the statehouse Tuesday to cement support for his plan. By his count, he now has 79 votes in favor of school choice - three more than the 76-vote threshold the plan needs to pass.
"With the results that came in last night, there was a tidal wave of support for those house candidates I supported," he said outside a private school in Tyler Wednesday. "We have more than enough members of the Texas House of Representatives elected last night to make sure that school choice is going to pass."
"There's no question at all that Abbott has the votes needed to pass school choice in 2025," Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones said. "The only question or doubt that remains: how robust will it be when it reaches the house floor?"
Lawmakers rejected a scaled-back compromise the governor extended during a special session in 2023. Jones said he suspects the governor, emboldened by new allies, will not extend the same offer to House lawmakers in 2025.
Abbott Wednesday promised to give teachers a pay raise and "fully fund" public schools in 2025.