The Georgetown ISD board of trustees unanimously voted Aug. 17 to call for a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, that proposes to increase the district’s tax rate by $0.06 to $1.1106 per $100 valuation.
If passed, the tax rate increase will amount to a $7.97 increase in the annual tax bill for the median homeowner with a homestead exemption. District leaders say revenue raised by the VATRE—which will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot as “Georgetown Independent School District Proposition A”—would fund staff compensation, student programs and instructional support.
"Georgetown ISD’s goal is to continue academic growth by recruiting and supporting dedicated teachers in every classroom,” Superintendent Devin Padavil said in a news release. “Our intent behind this election is to retain and attract teachers and staff by improving compensation while maintaining a balanced budget.”
By the numbers
Public school districts in Texas have two tax rates. GISD leaders are looking to increase the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate—which pays for routine costs like payroll—by $0.09 from $0.6931 to $0.7831 per $100 valuation.
At the same time, district leaders cut the district’s interest and sinking rate—which raises funds to pay the district’s debt—by $0.03 from $0.3575 to $0.3275 per $100 valuation.
Overall, the district’s combined tax rate would rise by $0.06 from $1.0506 to $1.1106 per $100 valuation.
By raising the district’s M&O tax rate, the district says it will raise $17.5 million in additional revenue. However, about $9.1 million will be recaptured by the state, while $8.4 million will remain in the district.
"The board’s purpose in calling for this election is to maximize revenues under the Texas' school funding formula, maintain our balanced budget, and allow local voters to make the final decision regarding teacher and staff pay for Georgetown ISD," GISD board President James Scherer said in a news release.
District officials say revenue raised by the VATRE would be used to fund 3% pay raises for teachers and hourly staff, while all other staff would receive 2% raises. In dollars, this could increase teacher compensation by $2,300, while starting teacher salaries would increase from $57,000 to $59,000.
Measuring the impact
If the VATRE is approved, the median homeowner with a homestead exemption could see their annual tax bill increase by $7.97 to about $3,381.39. Although the district is proposing a tax rate increase, the median home’s property value has fallen by $16,629 since 2025, according to numbers from the Williamson Central Appraisal District provided by GISD.
Homeowners above the age of 65 or disabled homeowners with a homestead exemption will not see their school district property taxes increase.
Going forward
If a majority of voters approve of the VATRE, the district will retroactively pay employees beginning with August.
Although GISD approved a balanced budget June 15, the district will consider cuts as needed if the VATRE fails. Melinda Brasher, GISD’s executive director of community engagement and communications, said these cuts would not occur immediately.
Since the board approved a lower I&S rate of $0.3275 per $100 valuation as part of that budget, the district’s tax rate would fall below last year’s to $1.0206 per $100 valuation if the VATRE fails.
Early voting begins Oct. 19.
