Two-minute impact
The audit, conducted by Houston-based accounting firm Weaver, was carried out as part of the requirements for the district holding a voter-approval tax rate election in November.
The audit’s results are based on the district’s data from fiscal year 2021-22 and compared the district to a number of similar-sized districts. Those included:
- Alief ISD
- Humble ISD
- Lamar CISD
- Leander ISD
- Mansfield ISD
- Mesquite ISD
- Richardson ISD
Diving in deeper
Compared to its peer districts, the district has a lower percentage of economically disadvantaged students on average, along with lower rates of English learners and bilingual/English as a second language students, according to the data.
CCISD has identical rates of special education students, the audit results shows.
Revenue per student, which is based on the districts’ financial data, is nearly $2,000 less compared to peer districts and nearly $3,000 less compared to the state’s average, according to the audit. The district also spends less per student compared to the state and its peer districts by about $1,000.
Despite this, the district’s accountability rating score came in for 2022-23 at an 89, while its peer districts averaged an 86, according to the audit.
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The context
CCISD is faced with a shortfall of about $17.4 million for fiscal year 2023-24 and is looking at a VATRE to shore up that gap, CCISD officials have said in recent months.
If voters approve it in November, it will bring the district’s tax rate for 2023 to $0.9776 per $100 valuation, up from $0.9746 if the VATRE is rejected, according to district documents.
As a result, homeowners of a $385,000 house can expect to save about $670 on their tax bills compared to last year due to the state compressing tax rates across Texas, according to district documents.
If rejected, homeowners will save about $750 on their tax bills.
