Frequently Asked Questions
Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election
Facts About Boerne ISD
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Boerne ISD serves over 11,130 students across 14 campuses. Boerne ISD is considered a fast-growth district, and is projected to be home to over 15,000 students in 5 years. Boerne ISD is one of the lowest funded districts in the state per student due to the state funding formula.
The district employs 1,700 people, making it the largest employer in Kendall County and in the greater Boerne area.
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Boerne ISD is an A-rated district, and has been for the past 6 years since TEA introduced the A-F rating system. It is the largest A-rated district in the San Antonio area.
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Boerne ISD has lost members of our teaching staff to neighboring districts due to compensation-related matters. In 2023-24, the turnover rate was 14%. In 2024-25, that number rose to 18% – over 120 teachers – who left the district.
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After required teacher pay mandates, HB2’s recent passage in the Texas legislature had a negative financial impact on Boerne ISD and 8 other districts.
Some teachers received a $2500 or $5000 increase depending upon years of experience. But, because neighboring districts also received this increase – or a greater one – this did not close the gap between Boerne ISD's pay scale and others.
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Boerne ISD has had to implement pay increases for auxiliary and hourly staff due to significant vacancies that were causing delays in services. These include bus drivers and custodians. When pay increases were implemented in 2024 after a Board vote, nearly all of the vacancies were filled within a month.
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Boerne ISD paid recapture from around 2005 until 2023, with a pause on those payments in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Recapture amounted to almost $120M taken out of Boerne ISD over that time.
BOERNE ISD NO LONGER PAYS RECAPTURE and is not forecasted to. -
Boerne ISD’s Board of Trustees has advocated for a permanent teacher pay increase, property tax relief, and other items for nearly 10 years.
How Does School Finance Work?
School tax rates are made up of two parts: M&O (maintenance and operations) and I&S (interest and sinking). Together, these rates make up the district’s tax rate.
- Golden pennies bring additional state funding with them and aren’t subject to recapture. Districts have a maximum of 8 available.
- Copper pennies decrease state funding and are subject to recapture. Districts have a maximum of 9 available. Copper pennies are not under consideration in Boerne ISD.
- Boerne ISD’s tax rate is one of the lowest in the area, a decrease of $0.36 since 2018.
- Boerne ISD's board adopted a tax rate of $1.0109 in August 2025.
What's a VATRE?
A VATRE is a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election.
This funding mechanism was introduced by the Texas legislature in 2007 to combat inflation and to give school districts more local control.
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The November tax ratification election is asking the Boerne ISD community to vote on increasing the tax rate by $0.02.
This is a one-time vote. The $0.02 increase would generate $4.8M annually that would remain in Boerne ISD. These funds are not subject to recapture and stay under local control. -
Taxpayer savings with the expected passage of a statewide property tax relief measure (with the increased homestead exemption):
- Most homeowners could see an average $80 decrease on tax bill.
- For 65+ and disabled, frozen tax rates remain frozen and taxpayers see an average $670 decrease on tax bill.
Why is Boerne ISD pursuing a VATRE?
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- The Superintendent established a Budget Strategy Advisory Committee consisting of more than 40 local business owners., community leaders, and parents.
- The Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Instructional Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer led monthly board of trustees budget workshops to provide financial transparency.
- The board of trustees and community members met with over 120 legislators in Austin to advocate on behalf of Boerne ISD.
- A Boerne ISD trustee was one of only four Texans invited to testify on behalf of the board's legislative priorities.
- Boerne ISD cut nearly $1.5M from its central office operating budget since Spring 2025.