Community Question - Why are my Taxes Going Up?

Why are my taxes going up and where is all that money going?

This is a great question and a common one that many residents have, especially when no improvements have been made to their property.  If your taxes went up this year, the reason is because the Collin County Appraisal District increased the value of your property.  The school district had nothing to do with determining the value of your property.

Tax Rate
It is important for you to know that the tax rate in Blue Ridge ISD did not change from last year and remained the same this year at $1.5715 per $100 valuation.  This means that the only way for your  taxes to go up is for the value of your property to increase.

State vs. Local $$$
It is true that your taxes go to the local school, but there is a caveat.  Local taxes are combined with state dollars to fund every local school district in the state.  What is interesting to know is that since 2008, the state has taken on less financial responsibility to fund public schools.

The data below from the Texas Legislative Budget Board (LBB) shows how the state has shifted the burden of funding public education over to the local taxpayer.  In other words, while local taxes have gone up, state contributions have not followed suit.  State aid for education has risen from $17.14 billion in 2008 to the present figure of $19.59 billion, representing a 12.7% increase. However, local property taxes have risen from $18.2 billion to $26.25 billion during that same time frame, an increase of 44.2%.

• 2008
      
• State 48.5%
• Local 51.5%
• 2017
• State 42.4%   
• Local 57.6%

2008

2017

• 2018 (Projected by Moak Casey)

Projected for 2018

• State 37.1%
• Local 62.9%

What does the Future Hold?

Based on the current funding formulas, these numbers will become more imbalanced in the 2017 - 2018 biennium if funding to public schools matches the Texas Education Agency’s budget request.  TEA is proposing $34.14 billion in general revenue, a decrease of $3.35 billion from the previous session. Local school districts and their taxpayers will continue to take on more responsibility to provide public education to 5.2 million students (a number that increases every year).

What Are We Doing About It?

To alleviate future burdens on public schools, Region 10 superintendents are asking state representatives and senators to increase the basic allotment by $275 per WADA (Weighted Average Daily Attendance). While this will not solve all of the problems in school finance, this increase would generate $302,542 in state funding for Blue Ridge ISD and help every school in the state of Texas. This increase in the state's contribution would not raise your taxes but rather ensure that the ISD property taxes you already pay actually go towards the purpose of the tax – our schools!

What Can You Do About It?

To make your voice heard, all you have to do is contact your state senator and state representative. Their contact information is below.


Here are the Region 10 Legislative Priorities if you want to learn more about them.

Collin County-District 3

Texas State Senators

Texas State Senate District 8--Senator Van Taylor Capitol Office: EXT E1.708 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0108 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station Austin, TX 78711 District Address: 6301 Preston Road, Suite 700 Plano TX 75024 Phone: (972) 398-9416 State District Offices Texas State Senate District 30--Senator Craig Estes Capitol Office: CAP 3E.18 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0130 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station Austin, TX 78711 District Address: 2525 Kell Blvd., Suite 302 Wichita Falls TX 76308 Phone: (940) 689-0191 State District Offices

Texas State Representatives Texas State House District 33--Representative Scott Turner Capitol Office: EXT E1.318 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0484 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 District Address: 6537 Horizon Rd., Suite B. Rockwall TX 75032 Phone: (972) 722-7887 Texas State House District 66--Representative Matt Shaheen Capitol Office: EXT E1.322 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0594 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 District Address: 5304 West Plano Parkway Plano TX 75093 Phone: (469) 642-8708 Texas State House District 67--Representative Jeff Leach Capitol Office: EXT E1.314 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0544 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 District Address: 777 E. 15th Street, Ste. 202 Plano TX 75074 Phone: (972) 424-1419 Texas State House District 70--Representative Scott Sanford Capitol Office: EXT E2.210 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0356 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 District Address: 115 W. Virginia, Suite 103 McKinney TX 75069 Phone: (972) 548-7500 Texas State House District 89--Representative Jodie Laubenberg Capitol Office: CAP 1N.7 Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0186 Capitol Address: P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768 District Address: 206 North Murphy Road Murphy TX 75094 Phone: (972) 424-6810

Your Input Matters
If you have a question, suggestion, or comment, please let a comment below. Comments are not published immediately. Please do not leave negative comments about individual people. If you have a negative comment, please email the principal, superintendent or call 972-752-5554.