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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming RICHARDSON ISD agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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District Approving Property Tax Hike
The school board is set to approve a tax roll based on a higher tax rate and rising property values. The district’s own Taxpayer Impact Statement shows the tax bill on a median-valued home will increase by over $300, from $3,202 to $3,507.
Response
This is a direct hit on your family budget. Contact the RISD Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact info): ‘Vote NO on Item IV.I. Richardson families cannot afford a $300 property tax increase. Adopt the no-new-revenue rate.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Over $150,000 Paid to Lobbying Group
Under the consent agenda, the district reports cumulative purchases of $150,466.50 from the ‘BUY BOARD – Texas Association of School Boards’ (TASB). TASB is a taxpayer-funded lobbying organization that often works against parental rights, school choice, and property tax relief in Austin.
Response
Demand this item be pulled from the consent agenda for a recorded vote. Contact the RISD Board of Trustees: ‘Regarding Item IV.C Part F, I demand a public justification for spending over $150,000 with TASB, a group that lobbies against taxpayer interests. Please vote to end this relationship.’
💰 Impact: $150,466 in Lobbying Fees
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Adopting Official Lobbying Platform
The board will vote to adopt its ‘2027 Legislative Priorities,’ a platform for lobbying the state legislature. Priorities include lobbying for ‘additional funding’ from the state, which means higher taxes for all Texans, rather than focusing on managing local resources.
Response
Ask the board why they are spending time and resources on lobbying instead of education. Contact the RISD Board of Trustees: ‘Regarding Item IV.P, the board should focus on fiscal responsibility within RISD, not on lobbying Austin for more of our tax dollars. Vote NO on adopting these priorities.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Multiple Policy Changes With No Public Text
The board is scheduled to approve revisions to nine different local policies, including those on Student Discipline, Student Safety, and Crisis Intervention. The agenda lists only the policy titles, not the actual text of the changes, preventing public review before the vote.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Demand the board postpone the vote on Item IV.Q until the full text of all proposed policy changes is made public. Contact the RISD Board of Trustees: ‘We cannot have accountability without transparency. Publish the full text of all policy revisions under Item IV.Q and allow for public review before any vote.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Transparency
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Consultant Hired for ‘Multi-Tiered System of Supports’
A contract addendum brings the total cost to $52,500 for a consultant to support the district’s ‘multi-tired system of supports (MTSS)’. MTSS is often used as a vehicle to implement Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and other behavioral programming without direct parental oversight.
Response
Demand details on this consultant’s work. Contact the RISD Board of Trustees: ‘Regarding the MTSS consultant in Item IV.C Part E, what specific curriculum or framework is being implemented, and how can parents review all materials and opt their children out?’
💰 Impact: $52,500 Consultant Fee
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Public Comment Rules Limit Taxpayer Access
The district’s public comment procedures require residents to sign up online before 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. This rule prevents busy parents and taxpayers who learn of an issue in the afternoon from being able to address their elected officials that evening.
Response
Ask the board to make it easier for the public to speak. Contact the RISD Board of Trustees: ‘Please amend the public comment rules to allow speaker sign-ups until the meeting begins, ensuring that all residents have a chance to be heard.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
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