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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming CHISUM ISD agenda. There are 4 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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Final Vote to Set Your Property Tax Bill
The board is holding a public hearing and then taking a final vote to set the 2026-2027 property tax rate. This vote determines the size of every homeowner’s school tax bill. Taxpayers should demand to know if the proposed rate is higher than the “no-new-revenue” rate, which is the definition of a tax increase.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: This is the final vote that sets your school property tax bill for the year. Attend the public hearing and demand the board adopt the ‘No-New-Revenue’ tax rate. If they vote for a higher rate, they are voting to raise your taxes.
💰 Impact: Potential property tax increase if the adopted rate exceeds the no-new-revenue rate.
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Taxing More Than Needed for Debt
The board is voting on a resolution to set the debt service tax rate (I&S rate) higher than the minimum amount required to make their payments. This means they are intentionally collecting extra money from taxpayers through the portion of the tax bill dedicated to debt. The district must explain why this extra money is needed and what it will be used for.
Response
SHOW UP & ASK WHY: Attend the public hearing. Ask the board to explain, in plain dollars and cents, why they need to tax residents more than the minimum required to pay the district’s debt. Demand to know where every extra dollar is going.
💰 Impact: An I&S tax rate higher than the minimum required to service debt.
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Spending the District’s Savings With No Details
The board plans to spend money from its “Committed Fund Balance,” which is the district’s savings account. The agenda provides no list of projects or costs, leaving taxpayers in the dark about how this reserve money will be used. This could be a way to fund pet projects without going through the normal budget process.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Chisum ISD administration before the meeting. Ask for a detailed list of the ‘Committed Fund Balance projects’ under consideration, including the cost of each. Taxpayers deserve to know how their savings are being spent.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed spending from district reserve funds.
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Last-Minute, Undisclosed Budget Changes
The board is scheduled to vote on “budget amendments” without providing any public documents detailing what these changes are. This could involve shifting significant amounts of money or adding new spending items at the last minute with no public scrutiny.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Chisum ISD administration and ask for the proposed budget amendments to be posted online before the meeting. Taxpayers should not have to guess what financial decisions are being made.
💰 Impact: Unknown. Could be last-minute spending approved without public review.
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