Homeowners in Leander ISD will pay the same tax rate of $1.51187 per $100 of property valuation in fiscal year 2016-17 as they paid in FY 2015-16, but because property values are higher, bills will go up. LISD’s board of trustees voted 5-0 to maintain the current tax rate at its Aug. 25 meeting. The board held a public hearing prior to the vote, but no members of the public spoke. Chief Financial Officer Lucas Janda said at a previous meeting the appraised value on homes in Travis and Williamson counties rose 11 percent since the board last voted on the tax rate. The tax rate is comprised of two portions: the debt service rate and the maintenance and operations tax rate. The latter will remain at $1.04 because if trustees lowered the rate, it would affect state funding, Janda said. Board members also maintained the debt service rate at $0.47187. The board also voted 5-0 to approve a total budget of $422,254,319 for 2016-17. The total budget is comprised of three separate funds, including the general operating fund, for which the board allocated $313,669,478; the food service budget, for which the board allocated $13,091,098; and debt service, for which the board allocated $95,493,743. Janda said the general operating fund increased from the 2015-16 fund by about 6 percent, largely because of a 3 percent increase in student enrollment—more than 1,000 new students—and a 3 percent increase in teacher salaries. State aid to the general operating budget decreased by nearly 19 percent because as property taxes rise and the district collects more local revenue, the state will provide less funding, Janda said. The bulk of the general operating fund, about 85 percent, is made up of payroll and insurance costs, Janda said. Residents can find more information on the LISD budget and tax rate on the district’s website.