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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming SOUTHWEST ISD agenda. There are 3 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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Secret, Last-Minute Budget Changes
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 27, 2026 |
The board is scheduled to approve the final amendment to the 2025-2026 budget, but the district has not made the details public. The agenda states the information “will be handed out at Thursday evening’s meeting,” giving taxpayers and even board members no time to review potentially significant spending changes before the vote.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding Item IV, the final budget amendment must be posted online for public review well before the meeting. A last-minute handout is unacceptable. Postpone the vote until the public can see where the money is going.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed. The public has no way of knowing the dollar amount of these last-minute changes.
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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Voting on an Invisible Budget
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 27, 2026 |
The board is voting to approve the entire 2026-2027 district budget (Item V), but the actual budget document is not attached to the public agenda. The district held a public hearing for comment on a budget that taxpayers could not review beforehand, undermining the entire purpose of a public hearing.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding Item V, where is the proposed 2026-2027 budget? The public cannot provide meaningful comment on a document we cannot see. Post the full budget online immediately and table the vote until the community has had at least 72 hours to review it.’
💰 Impact: The entire 2026-2027 District Budget is not publicly accessible from the agenda.
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 6) |
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Tax Rate Shell Game
| 📅 Vote Scheduled August 27, 2026 |
The district is proposing a total tax rate of $1.1526, which is below the “no-new-revenue” rate. However, buried in the fine print of the official resolution is the admission: “THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE.” This means the district is increasing the total amount of money it collects from taxpayers for its operating budget, even if the overall rate is slightly lower.
Response
DEMAND A CLEAR VOTE: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding Item VIII, please state clearly for the record that you are voting to increase the total tax levy for Maintenance & Operations. Taxpayers deserve to know that the district is collecting more money from them, even if the rate looks lower.’
💰 Impact: An increase in the total M&O tax levy, despite a lower overall rate.
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