Voters in the GCISD School Board Election should understand exactly what is on the table. So here it is:
With approval, the board has access to nine copper pennies. That is a direct path to raising taxes. Matthew White, Lindsey Sheguit, and Darrell Brown have already signaled they are open to using them. They said so on a recent podcast.
Matthew White also addressed the impact in a Facebook comment. He suggested that on a $485,000 home, the increase would be about $28 per month. He frames it that way to the amount seem small – much like a used car salesman would do. It does sound small, but it is wrong. At nine cents per $100 of assessed value, the increase is $436.50 per year. That is $36.37 per month. Not $28.
But the bigger issue is what happens to that money. Under the current system, about 60 percent of revenue from copper pennies is sent to the state through recapture. It does not stay in GCISD. On that same $436.50 increase, roughly $261.90 leaves the district. Only $174.60 remains to support local students.
So, taxpayers pay more. Most of it never benefits GCISD classrooms. That should raise a serious concern.
Local taxes should deliver a local benefit. That is a basic expectation. When a school board votes to use copper pennies, it is effectively voting to raise taxes for the state. That is not just inefficient. It is irresponsible. It is an abuse of the taxpayer.
A trustee should respect the taxpayer. Asking voters to approve a tax increase when 60 percent will leave the district and known inefficiencies still exist is not respect. It is the opposite.
And the common defense does not hold up. Saying “it would take voter approval” is disingenuous. Trustees decide what goes on the ballot. They do not propose tax increases they do not support. If it is on the ballot, it is because they want it.
Now consider the timing. Even after consolidation, the district still has more than 600 empty elementary seats. Middle schools are expected to face similar underutilization as smaller classes move up. That is excess capacity. That is ongoing cost.
This is a choice about priorities.
One path demands discipline. It aligns spending with enrollment and protects taxpayers. The other raises taxes, sends most of that money out of the district, and leaves inefficiencies in place.
The challengers have made their position clear. They’ll raise your taxes while spending your money unwisely. They’ve said it. Voters should take them at their word.
Vote for AJ Pontillo, Mary Humphrey and Dianna Sager. They’ve proven that they respect the taxpayer.
Early voting is still open. Vote Monday and Tuesday (April 27 and 28) from 7:00am – 7:00pm
Election Day is Saturday May 2nd from 7:00am – 7:00pm
Go Vote!
