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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming VALLEY VIEW ISD agenda and found 3 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Proposed Property Tax Rate Adoption
The board is voting to set the total property tax rate at $0.8136 per $100 of valuation. The agenda provides no context on how this rate compares to the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate, which is the rate that would collect the same amount of taxes as last year from existing properties. Due to rising appraisals, this could be a stealth tax increase on homeowners even if the rate itself is flat or lower than last year.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY ON TAXES: Contact the VVISD board before the meeting. Ask them to publicly state how the proposed total tax rate of $0.8136 in Item 5.D compares to the ‘no-new-revenue’ rate before they vote. Taxpayers deserve to know if this is a tax hike.
💰 Impact: Potential Property Tax Hike
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Adopting Third-Party Digital Library
The board plans to adopt a new digital library for students provided by the vendor ‘Open Lightbox’ under Item 5.H. This action could outsource the selection of reading materials to an outside company, potentially without the same level of local review and parental oversight as physical books. Parents have a right to know what content their children can access and what the vetting process is.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Before voting on Item 5.H, the board must explain the process for reviewing and approving content within the ‘Open Lightbox’ digital library. Contact the VVISD Board and ask: ‘What is the district’s policy for vetting digital content from third-party vendors to ensure it is age-appropriate and aligns with community values?’
💰 Impact: Outsourced Book Curation
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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District of Innovation Plan Update
The board is considering an updated ‘District of Innovation’ plan. These plans allow districts to claim exemptions from state laws, which can impact everything from teacher certification requirements to class sizes. Without the text of the plan, taxpayers cannot know what accountability measures are being waived.
Response
INVESTIGATE: The ‘District of Innovation’ plan in Item 5.F is not attached to the public agenda. Email the VVISD Board and ask: ‘Please publish the full text of the proposed District of Innovation plan online before the vote so the public can see what state laws the district is seeking exemption from.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Accountability
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