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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming MART ISD agenda. There are 4 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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Tax Dollars for Solar Project
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 26, 2026 |
The board is scheduled to approve a debt repayment to a company called ‘True North Solar’ using the Interest & Sinking (I&S) fund. The I&S fund is paid for by property taxes specifically levied to pay off voter-approved debt, typically for school buildings. This payment raises questions about whether voters ever approved taking on debt for a solar project, or if this is a different kind of financing deal, like a lease-purchase agreement, that was structured to bypass voters but is still being paid from the debt fund.
Response
DEMAND ANSWERS: Email the Mart ISD board. ‘Regarding Item VI.G, please provide the full contract with True North Solar and confirm when voters approved this specific debt. Taxpayers deserve to know how I&S funds are being spent.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed debt or lease obligation for a solar project, potentially without voter approval.
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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Tax Rate Vote Lacks Transparency
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 26, 2026 |
The board will vote to adopt a total property tax rate of $1.1669 per $100 valuation. However, the agenda fails to provide the most critical piece of information for taxpayers: the ‘no-new-revenue’ tax rate. The no-new-revenue rate is the rate that would bring in the same amount of money as last year from the same properties. Without this comparison, it’s impossible for taxpayers to know if the proposed rate is a real tax cut or a stealth tax increase driven by soaring property appraisals.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Attend the public hearing at 7:00 PM. Email the Mart ISD board: ‘Before you vote on Item VI.B, please publicly state the no-new-revenue rate and the voter-approval rate so taxpayers can understand the real impact of your proposed tax rate.’
💰 Impact: Potential tax increase on homeowners if the adopted rate is higher than the no-new-revenue rate.
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Vote on Undisclosed Student Drug Testing Policy
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 26, 2026 |
The board is set to take action on a ‘student drug testing policy’ without providing the text of the policy to the public ahead of the meeting. This prevents parents from reviewing the details. Key questions remain unanswered: Who will be tested and how often? What are the consequences for a positive test? Who collects and has access to this sensitive student health data? Voting on an un-published policy shuts parents out of the process.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Mart ISD board: ‘Regarding Item VI.D, please postpone the vote on the student drug testing policy until the full text of the proposed policy is posted online for public review and comment.’
💰 Impact: Potential infringement on student privacy and parental rights without public review.
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Secret ‘Certification of Compliance’ Vote
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 26, 2026 |
The agenda includes an action item for a ‘Certification of Compliance’ but provides no context, explanation, or attached documents. It is impossible for the public to know what the district is certifying compliance with. This type of vague agenda language undermines government transparency and prevents taxpayers from performing basic oversight of the board’s actions.
Response
DEMAND CLARITY: Email the Mart ISD board: ‘What specific state or federal rule does Item VI.E, Certification of Compliance, refer to? Please explain this item and provide any relevant documents to the public before the vote.’
💰 Impact: Lack of transparency prevents public oversight of board actions.
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