Voters Come to the Aid of Round Top-Carmine School District In Tax Election; Money Will Go to AC Repairs

Round Top-Carmine ISD held a special election seeking voter approval for a 2.8 percent increase to the district’s maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate. Voters approved the proposition by more than 75 percent. The count was 963 in favor versus 310 against.

“This community came out and supported the school district,” said RTCISD Superintendent Brandon Schovajsa.

The district sought to raise the M&O tax rate to $0.6969 per $100 of taxable value. The highest the district could have set the rate without calling an election was $0.6769. The higher rate will generate an estimated $178,000 in additional revenue. RTCISD has long been subject to the State’s recapture program, whereby the state takes revenue from wealthy school districts and redistributes it to districts with poorer property values. Schovajsa said his district sent just under $2.5 million in recapture funds to the state last year. That’s on an annual school budget of a little over $6 million. He estimated that the state would take about $3 million in recapture funds from the district this year.

Schovajsa said the recapture program hampers the district’s ability to properly maintain its facilities. He said the district plans to use much of the extra revenue to repair its aging air conditioning equipment.

“It’s a non-negotiable,” he said. “We’ve got about $150,000 in A/C repairs that we have got to do.”

In addition, he said the elementary campus in Round Top needs about $50,000 to $60,000 in sewer system repairs.

“Beyond that, we want to retain the exemplary staff we have here and compensate them so we can continue to be competitive with the surrounding areas,” Schovajsa said.

Schovajsa said supporters of the tax election did a good job of informing the community about the school’s needs.

“The slogan on the signs said ‘RTC Kids Deserve This,’ and they do,” he said.

“When I saw results come in, all I can say is I’m proud,” he added. “It was a very emotional night for me. The community, hands down, supports this school. I’m very proud to be superintendent of this school, and I know our school board members are proud to be elected officials.”