Later VATREs! Vote No on School District Tax Hikes

The Travis County Republican Party voted by unanimous voice vote during its October Executive Committee meeting to oppose the 2023 VATREs (Voter Approval Tax Rate Elections) proposed by Round Rock, Lago Vista, and Pflugerville ISDs, appearing on the ballots as school Proposition A. TCRP also opposed the Lake Travis ISD bond designed to build new athletic facilities. For more information on each of the proposals or to find links on how to discuss what’s on the ballot visit our Your Vote page.

The resolution is as follows:

WHEREAS Plank 93 calls on districts to deliver “more education for our dollars, instead of nonstop lobbying for more dollars for education,” with 65 percent of district funds spent in the classroom as a minimum; and

WHEREAS Round Rock, Lago Vista, and Pflugerville ISDs are seeking more money from the public till, instead of making better use of existing revenues, which regularly increase; and

WHEREAS the proposed permanent tax increases from these two districts would erode a portion of the property tax relief intended by the Legislature, and these tax increases are being disingenuously marketed by some as tax reductions – which they are not; and

WHEREAS Round Rock ISD has some serious parental rights and governance issues that need

to be addressed prior to requesting additional money from the public;

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE that the Travis County Republican Party calls on the ISDs in the county to fund any needed salary increases by reducing administration and overhead and re-prioritizing funding into the classroom and not by raising taxes and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Travis County Republican Party opposes the 2023 VATREs (Voter Approved Tax Rate Elections) proposed by Round Rock, Lago Vista, and Pflugerville ISDs, appearing on the ballots as school Proposition A. TCRP also opposes the Lake Travis ISD bond.