By BOBBY HORN JR.
With just weeks left before the start of the school year, the Aldine ISD Board of trustees took care of the biggest issue that faces them each summer, the school budget.
The Board has approved a $439.2 million budget for the 2007-2008 school year.
The new budget is the first budget under incoming superintendent Dr. Wanda Bamberg, who moved into the position following the retirement of Nadine Kujawa at the end of the 2006-07 school year.
The budget is $1.6 million less than the initial budget for 2006-2007 and more than $20 million less than the amended budget, which the board was also approved.
Despite the lower budget, school officials say that not programs will be cut. According to Keith Clark, assistant superintendent of finance the district was able to cut the budget by avoiding several one-time expenditures it paid out in the last school year.
Those included the purchase of computers, construction at the M.O. Campbell Center and $12 million in property purchases for two future elementary campuses, one middle school and one combined middle and elementary school.
In her first board meeting as superintendent, Bamberg said that in a time when school districts across the state are struggling financially, she is pleased with Aldines budget and proposed tax rate.
We look very carefully at our revenue and expenditures, and we do what has to be done, Bamberg said.
The budget is not the only area going down, which is welcome news for taxpayers.
The district is also proposing a lower tax rate.
The district is proposing a tax rate of $1.23 per $100 valuation. The 2006-2007 tax rate is $1.604 per $100 valuation.
The tax rate is broken down into two parts: Maintenance and Operations and Interest & Sinking. The first part, known as the M&O, is used to pay for the daily operations of the district. The second part referred to as I&S, can only be used to pay outstanding bonds.
The district will be able to lower the tax rate for a number of reasons.
The biggest decrease will come from action taken during the 2005 session of the Texas Legislature. During this session, officials approved a property tax relief bill. The tax relief will have a direct impact on the M&O. Last year, the M&O part of the tax rate was $1.49. It is projected that this will go down to $1.09. The district was also able to retire some older bonds, which will allow them to lower their I&S from $.11 to $.10.
Also affecting the new tax rate is the proposed budget. The district plans to cut last years total budget by 1.95%.
As anticipated by the district, a report from the Harris County Appraisal District shows that property values are on the rise in the district, which means more dollars for district coffers. The total taxable value of property in the district rose $23 million from last year.
According to the district, the average taxable value of a residence is $76, 289. With a tax rate of $1.233 per $100 valuation, the average taxpayer would pay $940.64 a year. This is $280.32 less than in 2006-2007.