What to know about the Alief ISD tax rate election — and what it means for your tax bill
Alief ISD residents will vote in the coming weeks on whether to raise property tax rates in the school district, which would use the money to close a projected budget deficit and potentially give raises to employees.
The ballot measure, known as a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election, would bump up property taxes in Alief by 6 cents per $100 in property value, delivering about $15.4 million in annual revenue to the district.
An Alief homeowner with a taxable property value of about $141,000, the district average, would see a tax bill increase of $85 per year. Property taxes for Alief residents 65 and older are frozen and would not be impacted by the results. Use the tool below to calculate your expected tax increase.
Early voting runs from Monday through Nov. 1, and Election Day is Nov. 5.
How would Alief spend the extra tax revenue?Alief administrators said the new tax rate would allow the district to close a projected $6.2 million deficit in its $456 million operating budget, helping avoid potential staff cuts that have occurred in neighboring districts. (Alief's 2024-25 budget, which passed in August , didn't project a deficit.)
The remaining revenue would allow the district to keep up with rising costs due to inflation and raise teacher salaries, Alief leaders said. District administrators have not detailed how much money would go toward teacher raises or how they would be distributed.
Why is Alief asking taxpayers for more money?Texas lawmakers have not significantly increased state funding to public schools since 2019. Although the state started the 2023 legislative session with a $33.7 billion surplus, proposals to increase school funding died as Gov. Greg Abbott tied the money to a controversial school voucher program that did not pass.
About 60 percent of Alief's operating revenue comes from the state. Nearly all of the remaining 40 percent of funding is from local property taxes. School districts can get more money from local taxpayers when property values increase, though state legislators have capped how quickly property tax bills can rise each year.
As state funding has stayed relatively unchanged and property tax revenues have slowly climbed, costs related to inflation have increased, squeezing some district budgets. Alief and many other Texas school districts are also struggling to hire and retain experienced staff .
How does Alief's teacher pay compare to pay in other districts?Teachers' annual salaries in Alief range from roughly the same to a few thousand dollars less than educators with similar years of experience in neighboring districts like Houston, Katy and Fort Bend ISDs, according to district salary schedules. Teachers also can earn stipends and receive benefits that impact their total compensation.
Where can I find more information about the election?To learn more about early voting schedules or find a polling place near you,to read the Houston Landing's voter guide.
