Final unofficial results for Brazoria County show more than 61% of Pearland ISD voters approved Proposition A, also known as the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE. With the passing of Proposition A, PISD’s tax rate is $1.3152 per $100 property value for the 2021-22 school year, which is still under the 2020-21 rate of $1.3185.
With all 31 polling places reporting, Brazoria County’s unofficial voting results showed 3,979 people, or 61.65%, were in favor of Proposition A, while 2,475 people, or 38.35%, voted against Proposition A. All results are unofficial until canvassed, and PISD will canvass election results Nov. 15.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Pearland ISD voters who helped us to save the day by voting for Prop A,” PISD trustee Crystal Carbone said. “Pearland ISD was facing financial struggles created by issues outside of the district’s control and the voters of Pearland ISD came to the rescue in a large way.”
The additional $7.4 million in funding will have a huge stabilizing effect for the district, Carbone added.
“We look forward to retaining our world-class employees and teachers, along with maintaining the quality student programming our families are accustomed to that has been offered with the support of [Proposition A],” Carbone said. “On behalf of my family, which includes three [children] who will soon be enrolled in Pearland ISD, I cannot express my gratitude deeply enough.”
Originally published at 7:52 p.m.
Early voting results show that Pearland ISD voters are in favor of adopting the property tax rate of $1.3152 per $100 property value for the 2021-22 school year.
Pearland ISD voters on Nov. 2 had the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, which appeared to district voters as Proposition A on ballots, and will determine the district’s property tax rate and if PISD receives additional funding for the upcoming school year.
Brazoria County’s early voting results showed 2,084 people, or 66.41%, were in favor of Proposition A while 1,054 people, or 33.59%, voted against Proposition A. All results are unofficial until canvassed. Pearland ISD will canvass election results Nov. 15.
If the VATRE is approved, PISD’s tax rate will be $1.3152 per $100 property value for the 2021-22 school year, according to the district. If it fails, it will be $1.2852. Both are under the 2020-21 rate of $1.3185.
The VATRE means the district will receive an additional $7.4 million in funding if it passes, which is broken down into $2.7 million from local tax revenue and $4.7 million in state funding, PISD Superintendent John Kelly previously told Community Impact Newspaper.
While the district’s total tax rate is an overall decrease from last year’s, PISD was required to seek voter approval because the maintenance and operations tax rate was raised above a prescribed amount, according to the district.
With the additional revenue, the district will look to continue funding some of its enhanced learning programs, such as dual language and gifted and talented; teacher salaries; athletics; and other programs, including some of the electives offered at Turner Career and College High School, according to PISD.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide to see results from all local elections in your community.
