On Sept. 20 voters in San Marcos CISD approved a tax ratification election that will provide an additional $1.2 million for the district's maintenance and operations and maintain the 2013–14 tax rate of $1.06 per $100 of property valuation. Karen Griffith, assistant superintendent of business and support, said the vote will allow the district to purchase new school buses and make technology upgrades throughout the district. Voters approved the measure with 68.75 percent, or 374 voters, in favor of the measure, and 31.25, or 170 voters against. "It's great news for the district," Griffith said. "We want to thank the community for their support and for taking their time to come and support the school district." The election was necessary because the district reallocated 2 cents of its tax rate from the portion of the rate intended to pay down debt—also known as the I&S fund—to the portion of the rate intended to fund maintenance and operations of the district—also known as the M&O fund. The 2014–15 tax rate, which was approved by the board of trustees in August, stayed the same as the 2013–14 tax rate, but because of the reallocation, an election was necessary. The two cents shifted to M&O provided an additional $700,000 for the district, and because the state of Texas provides funding to school district based on how much money taxpayers contribute to the M&O portion of the tax rate, an additional $500,000 will be provided to the district. The district's $80 million budget was also approved in August.