|
Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming NORTHSIDE ISD agenda and found 5 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
|
District Adopts $31.6M Deficit After Voters Reject Tax Hike
Following the failure of the Voter-Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE), the board is set to approve a budget amendment under Item 6.C. Instead of cutting spending to match available revenue, the new budget increases the district’s deficit from $17.9 million to $31.6 million, disrespecting the clear will of the voters who rejected a higher tax burden.
Response
DEMAND A BALANCED BUDGET: Contact the Northside ISD Board of Trustees (see official agenda for contact info). Tell them: ‘Regarding Item 6.C, I urge you to reject a budget that increases the deficit to $31.6M. The voters rejected the tax hike; now you must cut spending to live within your means.’
💰 Impact: $31.6M Budget Deficit
|
| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
|
District Hires Lobbying Group TASB for Superintendent Search
Under Item 11.B, the board will discuss its superintendent search with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Attached meeting minutes confirm the board already voted unanimously to hire TASB—a group that lobbies the legislature against taxpayer interests—to run its search. This decision, made shortly after a board member was elected to TASB’s board, further entrenches a lobbyist organization’s influence in district governance at taxpayer expense.
Response
PROTEST LOBBYIST INFLUENCE: Contact the Northside ISD Board of Trustees. Tell them: ‘Hiring TASB for the superintendent search is a conflict of interest. We need a leader focused on students and taxpayers, not one hand-picked by an Austin lobbying firm.’
💰 Impact: Entrenching Lobbyist Influence
|
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
|
Board to Approve Official State Lobbying Platform
Item 8.A calls for the ‘Approval of Legislative Priorities.’ This means the board is voting to use local taxpayer money and district resources to create an official platform for lobbying the Texas Legislature. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund lobbying efforts that may run counter to their own interests.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Northside ISD Board of Trustees. Tell them: ‘Regarding Item 8.A, I demand a roll-call vote on the legislative priorities. Taxpayers deserve to see which board members vote to spend our money on Austin lobbyists.’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
|
| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
|
Vague Title — Manual Review Required
Under Item 6.D, the board will vote to ‘Readopt’ the district’s property tax rate after voters rejected the proposed increase. The actual proposed rate is not specified in the agenda summary, requiring citizens to locate and analyze the attached resolution to see if the board is respecting the election outcome or adopting the highest rate legally possible without another vote.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file ‘RESOLUTION READOPTING TAX RATE FOLLOWING VATRE.docx’ attached to Item 6.D in the Official Agenda (linked above). Confirm if the board is adopting the no-new-revenue rate or a higher rate.
💰 Impact: Potential Property Tax Increase
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
|
Vague Title — Manual Review Required
Item 7.A is the first reading of a change to Board Policy FNG(LOCAL), which typically governs student and parent complaints and grievances. The text of the proposed changes is not included in the agenda summary. This policy could be altered to limit parental rights or create new barriers for parents seeking to resolve issues with the district.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file ‘FNG(LOCAL)’ attached to Item 7.A in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether the policy change restricts parents’ ability to file grievances or hold the district accountable.
💰 Impact: Reduced Parental Rights
|
|
|
“Freedom, Prosperity &
Opportunity”
TPPF is a conservative think tank whose mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation.
Contribute to the mission |