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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming LEWISVILLE ISD agenda. There are 4 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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District Sending $13.8 Million in Local Property Taxes to Austin
Buried in the proposed 2026-27 budget under ‘Contracted Instructional Services’ is a $13.8 million payment for ‘recapture,’ also known as ‘Robin Hood.’ This is money collected from Lewisville taxpayers that is sent to the state for redistribution. The district’s own documents note that ‘State law is silent on any requirement to notify the public’ about these payments, highlighting how this significant transfer of local wealth often happens without taxpayer awareness.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Trustees. Ask them to clearly explain during the public hearing how much local property tax money is being sent to the state through recapture, and what impact that has on the district’s budget and the local tax rate.
💰 Impact: $13.8 Million sent to the state
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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District Proposes Budget with $7.4 Million Deficit
The proposed General Fund budget shows the district plans to spend $7,352,497 more than it takes in. This shortfall will be covered by drawing money from the district’s savings account (fund balance). While a fund balance can cover one-time needs, relying on it to cover a structural operating deficit is not a sustainable long-term financial plan.
Response
DEMAND A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET: Email the Board of Trustees and ask: ‘What is the plan to bring spending in line with revenues in future years so the district does not have to continually draw down its savings account?’
💰 Impact: $7.4 Million from Savings
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Win (LEVEL 2) |
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District Adopting Tax Rate Below No-New-Revenue Level
The Board is set to adopt a total tax rate of $1.0778, which is below the calculated no-new-revenue rate of $1.1053. The no-new-revenue rate is the rate that would bring in the same amount of tax dollars from the same properties as the previous year. By adopting a rate below this threshold, the district is providing a measure of tax relief, even as rising property values may increase individual tax bills. This is a positive step in fiscal discipline.
How to Secure It
SUPPORT GOOD GOVERNANCE: Email the Board of Trustees to thank them for proposing a tax rate below the no-new-revenue rate. Encourage them to continue looking for ways to reduce the burden on local taxpayers.
✅ Why It Matters: Taxpayer Savings
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| Win (LEVEL 2) |
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District to Pay Down Debt Early, Saving Nearly $1 Million
The board is voting on a resolution to pay off some existing bonds early, a process known as ‘defeasance.’ This proactive debt management is projected to save taxpayers an estimated $997,400 in future interest payments. This is a fiscally responsible action that reduces the long-term burden on taxpayers.
How to Secure It
SUPPORT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Email the Board of Trustees to express support for Item G.3. Thank them for proactively managing the district’s debt to save taxpayer money.
✅ Why It Matters: Taxpayer Savings ($997,400)
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