DSISD maintains tax rate for 2018-19; bonds sold

As expected, the DSISD Board voted to maintain its tax rate of $1.52 ($1.17 Maintenance & Operations/$0.35 Interest & Sinking) per $100 of certified property value for the 2018-19 fiscal year, at its September board meeting.

DSISD said in its press release, “This action is consistent with what the district projected to result from the May 2018 bond election and marks the fifth consecutive year that the total tax rate has remained unchanged at $1.52. As a reminder, actual tax bills received by homeowners are the product of the tax rate and the appraised property value. Click here for more information on the budget development process, tax rate, and recapture; this page also has links to the complete budget document, as well as other data such as student enrollment history.”

At the same meeting, DSISD Superintendent's Dr. Bruce Gearing reported that bonds approved in the May election by voters were sold Sept. 20. The $132 million school bond package was the largest in the district's history, and the election authorizing them was unsuccessfully challenged by “Citizens for Excellent Education in Dripping Springs” in a lawsuit which was dismissed in Aug.

As part of the high school expansion goal, Dr. Gearing also reported at the board meeting that, “Architects are working at the high school to gather input on programming needs from faculty members and an RFQ is being developed for the construction manager.” Dr. Gearing also said that the Long-Range Facility Planning Committee will reconvene in the coming months. The group will receive reports on the 2018 bond program and updated demographic data so that they may begin discussion on the future of district facilities.

Currently architects are already working with DSHS staff to determine how program needs will be met with the high school expansion wing. Design work for the new elementary and the Walnut Springs Elementary relocation to the middle school property will begin in the spring.

Earlier in the year, Gearing stated that he anticipated future bond programs. If DSISD growth remains the same, which is about 6 percent annually, the district will double in size in the next eight-to-ten years. "Right now, we have 6,500 students in our district. We plan to expand the high school by 2,500 students. But by 2025 we'll have about 3,200 students in our high school. We will have to make a decision to either have a major expansion to the current high school or build a second high school in the district,” Dr. Gearing said.

Bond money from the May election will be used for: “expansion of Dripping Springs High School to capacity for 2,500 students, construction of a new elementary school (#5), construction of a new Walnut Springs Elementary adjacent to Dripping Springs Middle School, conversion of the current WSE campus into space for the district administration and daycare facility, miscellaneous projects at Dripping Springs Middle School, Dripping Springs Elementary and Rooster Springs Elementary, turf and track improvements at Dripping Springs High School and Dripping Springs Middle School, improvements and expansion of the District Transportation facility, district-wide technology infrastructure improvements and maintenance upgrades, and land acquisition,” according to DSISD.

After the school bonds passed in May, Dr. Gearing took a conciliatory note promising to stay engaged with stakeholders as the district carried out the needed expansions. “I wish to personally thank all those who exercised their civic right and responsibility to vote. We understand there are differing opinions about the bond package,” DSISD Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing said. “Our responsibility moving forward is to continue listening carefully to all stakeholders in order to shape the outcome of this community decision to serve the best interests of all our students, staff, parents, and tax payers. This will require extensive consultation with all stakeholders during the design phase of the work,” Dr. Gearing said.

Other Board action at the Sept. meeting included approval of MOUs with CAPCOG and Texas State University, the TIRZ Cost Participation Agreement, a legal services retainer agreement, and continuation of five elementary classes that have 23 students. Also, Assistant Superintendent Elaine Cogburn introduced the Business and Finance Department's monthly report. She also gave an overview of budget amendments.