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Boerne ISD Board Unanimously Calls Voter Approval Tax Rate Election for November 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2025
 
Boerne ISD Board Unanimously Calls Voter Approval Tax Rate Election for November 2025
Boerne, TX (August 2025) – The Boerne ISD Board of Trustees has approved an order calling a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) for Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The VATRE will ask voters to consider a three-cent increase to the district’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate. If approved by voters, the VATRE would generate an estimated 4.8 million dollars in annual funding for Boerne ISD, with approximately 37 percent of that amount coming from the state. None of the revenue would be subject to recapture, meaning all of it would remain in the district to be used for locally identified priorities. The decision to place the measure on the ballot follows several months of review by the district’s leadership team, which has been assessing operational needs, staffing costs, and current funding levels.
 
Key Information About the Called VATRE:
  • The district would receive approximately 1.8 million dollars in additional funding from the state, triggered by local voter approval.
  • All revenue generated by the VATRE would stay in Boerne ISD and is not subject to state recapture.
  • Boerne ISD is currently one of the lowest funded school district in Texas based on per-student state funding.
  • Nearly one in five Boerne ISD teachers left the district last year, many for higher-paying positions in nearby districts.
  • The district has already cut over $1.4 million dollars from administrative budgets through attrition and reorganization.
  • Funds generated through the VATRE would be used for classroom instruction, staff compensation, and student programs.
  • Homeowners aged 65 and older with a homestead exemption will not see an increase above their frozen tax amount under state law. In fact, it’s estimated they’ll see an average of a $670 reduction in their tax bill.
  • If both the VATRE and a proposed state property tax relief measure are approved by voters, Boerne ISD homeowners under the age of 65 may still see an estimated $80 dollar reduction in their overall school district tax bill.
"Our district has worked hard to be good stewards of public funds, including identifying reductions in our administrative costs," said Dr. Kristin Craft, Boerne ISD Superintendent. "We are committed to providing the community with clear, factual information about this election and what it would mean for our schools."
 
"This election gives voters the opportunity to consider whether the district should access additional state funding for ongoing operational needs," said Kristi Schmidt, Boerne ISD Board President. "Our Board has advocated for Boerne ISD schools and taxpayers for years, and since 2018, we’ve lowered the tax rate by 36 cents. We will continue sharing details with the public to ensure transparency throughout this process."
 
Early voting begins Monday, October 20, 2025, and continues through Friday, October 31, 2025. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Voter registration for the November election closes on Monday, October 6, 2025.
 
Additional resources will be posted at BoerneISD.net/VATRE as they become available.
 
About Boerne ISD: Boerne ISD is a top-rated public school district serving more than 11,150 students across Kendall and Bexar counties. With a reputation for academic excellence, innovative programs, and community involvement, BISD is committed to empowering all students to reach their full potential in a rapidly changing world.
 
For media inquiries, please contact:
Maggie Dominguez, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Communications
Phone: 830-357-2170
Email: maggie.dominguez@boerneisd.net