Dayton ISD decreases school tax rate

For the fifth consecutive year, the Dayton ISD School Board has done their best to ease the tax burden of Dayton ISD residents. This past August, the School Board voted to lower the tax rate from 1.27 per $100 valuation in 2019, to 1.1996 per $100 valuation for 2020. This is a $.07 decrease for this year alone which brings the five year total to $.23 over the past five years. The 86th Texas Legislature compressed the Maintenance and Operations portion of the tax rate, which lowered the rate more than twelve cents over the last two years. The remainder of the tax rate is for the Interest & Sinking (I&S) portion which allows the Dayton ISD to set that portion of the rate at whatever is needed to pay the current year’s bond payments based on voter approved bonds. The I&S rate went from $0.30 per $100 valuation down two cents to $0.28 per $100 of valuation this year. The five cent drop in the M&O rate combined with the two cent drop in the I&S rate, accounts for the overall $.07 decrease in the tax rate.

While Dayton ISD does set the tax rate on home and property owners in Dayton ISD, the district does not set the value of the home or property. That value is set by the Liberty County District Appraisal Office. The Texas Comptroller’s Office requires a Tax Rate Notice to be published in the newspaper advertising the public meeting that is required when a taxing entity sets a tax rate. That notice shows the average taxable value of a residence in Dayton ISD was $122,155 in 2019 and that average has increased to $136,354 in 2020. The increase in the value of homes is a good indicator of our strong economy within the school district and the reduction in the school tax rate shows a commitment by the Dayton ISD School Board to do what is best not only for the students of Dayton ISD, but also for the taxpayers of Dayton ISD.

During the August meeting, Associate Superintendent of Business Services, Mrs. Tami Pierce reminded the Trustees and the audience that in 2014 when the bonds were being considered to build new schools, the estimated I&S rate that was going to be needed was 43.8 cents, but in reality the I&S rate has not been more than 39.17 cents and has now been reduced to 28 cents. She commended the Board for their sound fiscal decisions to position the district to be able to reduce the tax rate again this year.

Dayton ISD will soon be in the middle of a growth period with the completion of Hwy 99. With the continued leadership of Superintendent Dr. Jessica Johnson, and a strong, fiscally responsible school board, Dayton ISD is in good hands in preparing for that growth.