RTCISD Completes Voter-Approved Upgrades
Last fall voters in the Round Top-Carmine ISD approved a 2.8 percent increase to the district’s property tax rate to pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades. Superintendent Brandon Schovajsa reported last week that the district has completed those upgrades.
“We kept our promise to voters,” Schovajsa said.
The upgrades included new air conditioning districtwide and a new septic system at the Elementary Campus.
Round Top-Carmine ISD (RTC), a small school district in one of the wealthiest rural areas of the State, finds itself subject to the State’s fiscal recapture system every year. This is the system whereby the State takes property tax revenue from wealthy school districts and redistributes it to districts with poorer property values. This take-from-therich to give-to-the-poor system is sometimes referred to as “Robin Hood.”
According to the Texas Education Agency, RTC will pay the state nearly $2.5 million this year – and that’s on an annual budget of about $6 million for the district.
Ironically, RTC found itself in a predicament last year when it couldn’t pay for the needed upgrades without asking voters for an increase to the tax rate. The 2.8 percent tax increase required a tax ratification election.
The increase was estimated to generate about $178,000 in new revenue – a paltry sum compared to the $2.5 million that the state will take from the district this year. RTC voters seemed to understand the predicament, because they approved the increase with more than 75 percent voting in favor.
At the time, the district promised to use the money for the septic and air conditioning upgrades. Any leftover funds would be used to support teacher pay. Schovajsa said the district has delivered on those promises. After paying for the infrastructure upgrades, the school board approved one-time bonus payments to district employees. Full-time employees received a $1,000 bonus and part-time employees received $500.
“That used up the funds this year for the tax ratification election,” Schovajsa said. “Moving forward, our emphasis will be on recruiting and retaining exemplary staff and keeping salaries competitive with districts in the area.”