Author: Eldon Thomas
Published April 19
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD has taken a disciplined approach to taxes in recent years. The district has lowered the overall tax rate while maintaining strong schools. Much of that reduction came from the I&S portion of the tax rate, which is used for debt service. Those dollars cannot be used for classrooms, programs or daily operations. By reducing that rate, the board returned money to taxpayers without impacting students.
Voters recently approved a VATRE that added three golden pennies to the M&O rate. That distinction matters. M&O dollars fund teachers, classrooms, and daily operations. Every dollar generated from those golden pennies stays in GCISD. None of it is sent to the state. At the same time, the board lowered the I&S rate by a slightly larger amount. The result was straightforward. Even with the VATRE, the overall tax rate went down.
That outcome reflects a clear philosophy. Address operational needs, but do it in a way that keeps dollars local with the VATRE election and the use of golden pennies. The current board has been consistent on this point. They have not supported the use of copper pennies, largely because of how those funds are treated under the Robin Hood. With copper pennies, more than 60 percent of the revenue is sent to the state and does not return to GCISD classrooms.
School board candidate Matthew White has signaled a different approach, and his reasoning ties directly to recent district decisions. With more than 1,900 empty seats across elementary campuses, GCISD chose to consolidate schools and operate more efficiently. Matthew has pointed to that situation as justification for raising additional revenue instead. In effect, rather than adjusting operations to match enrollment, his position opens the door to increasing taxes through copper pennies.
That perspective was reinforced during a recent podcast appearance. When copper pennies were compared to a “luxury tax” in sports, the comment drew laughter and agreement. Matthew then said, “You have to do what you have to do to make budget.” The implication is clear. Faced with excess capacity and budget pressure, his preference leans toward generating more revenue, even by using a mechanism where most of the money leaves the district and goes Austin.
The current board has taken a different path. Faced with the same 1,900 empty seats, they chose consolidation over higher taxes. They kept dollars local with the VATRE election and the use of golden pennies, reduced inefficiencies, and still lowered the overall tax rate. The contrast is straightforward. One approach prioritizes efficiency and local control of funding. The other is more willing to raise taxes through copper pennies, despite the fact that a majority of those dollars would never benefit GCISD students.
Vote for no increased taxes. Vote for leadership who knows how to lead, not just spend. Vote for efficiency over waste. Vote for a better run district. Vote for AJ, Mary and Dianna.
