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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming SOMERVILLE ISD agenda. There are 3 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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Final Vote on Your Property Tax Bill
The school board is holding a public hearing and then immediately voting to approve the 2026-2027 budget and set the new property tax rate. This is the final opportunity for taxpayers to speak out before their tax bills are locked in for the year. It is critical to determine if the proposed rate is higher than the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate, which would represent a tax increase on homeowners due to rising property values.
Response
SHOW UP & SPEAK UP: This is the final public hearing before the board votes on your tax bill. Attend the meeting at 6:00 PM to demand the board adopt the ‘no-new-revenue’ tax rate. Contact the district to find board member emails and tell them not to raise taxes.
💰 Impact: Potential tax increase if the adopted rate exceeds the no-new-revenue rate.
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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Secret Board Training Session
The school board is conducting a ‘Team of 8 Training’ in a closed session, hidden from public view. These trainings are often conducted by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), a taxpayer-funded lobbying group that frequently opposes property tax reform and parental rights. The public has a right to know what lobbyists are teaching their elected officials behind closed doors.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the district office. Ask who is conducting the ‘Team of 8 Training’ and request that all training materials be made public. Taxpayers should not be funding secret training sessions for elected officials, especially if they are conducted by a lobby group.
💰 Impact: The cost of the training itself, plus the future costs of policies and lobbying positions adopted based on the training.
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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Approving Final Price Tag for Bond Construction
The board is set to approve a ‘Guaranteed Maximum Price’ for the second phase of the 2025 bond projects. While voters approved the bond debt, this vote locks in a potentially massive price tag with a specific contractor. Taxpayers should demand to see the detailed breakdown of this price to ensure it’s a responsible use of the bond money they approved and not a blank check for cost overruns.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Before the board approves this maximum price, they should present the detailed cost breakdown to the public. Contact the district and ask for the specific dollar amount and the scope of work for Item III.C. ‘What is the total cost, and how does it compare to the original bond estimates?’
💰 Impact: Inefficient use of voter-approved bond funds, which could lead to future bond requests or deferred maintenance.
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