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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming DOSS CONSOLIDATED CSD agenda. There are 3 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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Adopting New Property Tax Rate Without Key Comparisons
The board is holding a public hearing and then voting to set the 2026 property tax rate at $0.66690. However, the agenda documents do not show how this rate compares to the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate — the rate that would bring in the same amount of money as last year from existing properties. Any rate adopted above the no-new-revenue rate is a tax increase on the community, even if the rate itself is lower than the prior year’s rate.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Email the Board before the meeting: ‘Before you vote on Item V.E, please publicly state the No-New-Revenue Rate and the Voter-Approval Rate, and explain how the proposed rate of $0.66690 compares. We deserve to know if this is a tax increase.’
💰 Impact: A 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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Shifting Major Spending Decisions Out of Public View
The board is voting to create a new two-member ‘Facilities and Property Committee’ to handle major financial decisions like construction, property acquisition, and long-range planning. Because this committee is smaller than a quorum of the full board, it is not subject to the same open meeting requirements. This allows major spending plans to be developed with less public scrutiny before being presented to the full board for a final vote, limiting public input and debate.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board: ‘Regarding Item V.F, all discussions about major construction and property acquisition should happen before the full board in an open meeting, not in a small committee. Please vote NO on creating a committee that reduces public oversight of taxpayer money.’
💰 Impact: Future debt or spending on major projects could be developed with minimal public oversight.
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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Rubber-Stamping an 8% Budget Hike for Tax Appraisers
The board is set to approve the 2027 budget for the Gillespie Central Appraisal District, the agency that appraises property and collects taxes for the district. Their proposed budget is increasing by over 8% for both appraisal and collection services, driven by higher salaries, rent, and IT costs. These administrative costs are passed directly to Doss taxpayers through mandatory allocations.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board: ‘Regarding Item V.A, what oversight is the board providing to ensure the appraisal district’s 8%+ budget increase is justified? Taxpayers expect you to scrutinize the rising administrative costs of collecting our taxes.’
💰 Impact: Doss CSD’s share of the CAD’s $132,270 appraisal budget increase and $35,425 collections budget increase.
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