During the 2024-25 school year, around 18% of BISD teaching staff left the district in favor of higher salaries, Superintendent Kristen Craft told Community Impact.
“Basically, one in five teachers left Boerne ISD, and most for better-paying opportunities,” she said.
Two-minute impact
A VATRE is required when a taxing entity wishes to increase the tax rate above the voter approval rate. If approved, the VATRE would generate an estimated $4.8 million in annual funding for BISD, with about 37% coming from the state.
Recapture allows the state to redistribute funding from districts to lower-income ISDs. While the district has paid recapture in the past, any revenue generated by the VATRE would remain in BISD. Between 2005 and 2023, the district paid around $120 million in recapture.
“No matter what data you look at, Boerne ISD has been at the bottom of funding,” Craft said.
Chief Financial and Operations Officer Wes Scott, during the Aug. 18 board meeting, said these additional funds will supplement staff salary increases and fund capital improvements.
While ballot language must legally state that the new rate is an increase, BISD and Kendall County Appraisal District data show an average decrease in total BISD taxes paid by property owners.
Trustees Rich Sena and Dallas Pipes, on Aug. 18, highlighted that the salary increases would benefit district employees.
“You just have to take care of your people because it is not cheap to live in this town, it’s expensive,” Sena said.
The cause
District staff said while school funding increased statewide this year, BISD received one of the lowest per-student increases in the region—$379 per student compared to a statewide average that is nearly double. BISD currently ranks 15th out of 21 for starting teacher pay when comparing San Antonio-region school districts.
This rank drops to 16th at five years of experience and to 19th at 10 years of experience.
In the last legislative session, school districts received additional compensation to supplement teacher salaries, causing BISD to remain lower on the teacher salary scale.
Aside from teacher pay, the VATRE will support salary increases for other district staff. Upon VATRE approval, the starting teacher salary would increase from $55,142 to $60,000.
Communications Director Maggie Dominguez said all pay scales will be reevaluated and increased following the approval of the VATRE.
What’s being done?
Craft said the district has cut nearly $1.5 million from the administration budget and restructured unfilled positions to cover job duties.
One example of this is the chief operating officer role, which Scott assumed after the former officer left the district.
“$1.5 million is cutting meat off the bone,” Craft said. “This is not fluff. Those are tough cuts to make, and people are having to do their work differently.”
The breakdown
Following the 2025 state legislative session, the homestead exemption for school district taxes was increased, meaning a home’s taxable valuation will decrease. Homestead exemptions increased by $40,000 for the average homeowner and by $50,000 for homeowners over the age of 65 or those with a disability, according to state legislation.
For fiscal year 2025-26, the average taxable value on BISD residential properties is $488,000, and a property owner would pay $4,938 annually. Compared to FY 2024-25, the proposed VATRE tax rate would result in an average decrease of $80 in overall taxes paid.
Looking ahead
The approval of the VATRE will ultimately be up to voters in the district, and if it is denied, BISD will not be able to propose another increase until next November.
“If the VATRE doesn’t pass, Boerne ISD will continue to have challenges retaining our high-quality staff,” Craft said. “Teachers have choices, and a 20% turnover rate would be a challenge next spring.”
Dominguez highlighted that the district is the largest employer in Kendall County, with around 1,700 total employees contributing approximately $5 million to the local economy each year.
“A healthy Boerne ISD has an impact on a healthy Boerne,” Dominguez said.
Important election dates
- Oct. 6: Last day to register to vote
- Oct. 20: Early voting begins
- Oct. 24: Last day to apply for ballot by mail
- Oct. 31: Early voting ends
- Nov. 4: Election day
