Abilene ISD plans 100 public meetings on VATRE before election

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Abilene Independent School District (ISD) plans on holding 100 public meetings until November 4 to inform and educate the public on a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election (VATRE).

With terms like “Golden Pennies”, “Copper Pennies,” and “VATRE,” school finances and budgets can get a little complicated. After proposing a Voter Approval Tax Ratification Election, or VATRE,” Abilene ISD Superintendent, Dr. John Khun, says they will hold a series of meetings with the public just to explain a VATRE and how it will affect the district’s budget.

“My goal is to have at least 100 meetings between now and Election Day. 44 or 46 of those will be at our campuses. We’re going to meet with the faculty, and then, immediately following the faculty meeting, to explain this, we’re going to invite parents of students in that school to come,” Kuhn said.

The VATRE is part of a property tax initiative that could potentially add around $10 million to the Abilene Independent School District’s budget. Abilene ISD School Board President Angie Wiley outlined the guidelines for this initiative.

“According to current law, this additional funding recurs yearly. Two will never be subject to recapture, which we may be facing in a couple of years due to property value increases coming along with Lancium. And three cannot be touched by anyone but Abilene ISD,” Wiley said.

However, the VATRE initiative won’t be the only property tax cut on the ballot. Abilene voters will have to decide on November 4 on which property tax decrease they prefer. One that is an overall property tax reduction, and the Abilene ISD’s VATRE initiative, which would see a portion of property taxes going back into the district. Dr. Khun explained the differences that Abilene voters are facing.

“If the VATRE doesn’t pass, we will lower everyone’s tax rate. If the VATER does pass, we will lower everyone’s tax rate. There is a difference between how much we’ll be able to lower it, but that difference adds up on the average residence to about $3 per month,” Dr. Kuhn said.

Since Dr. Khun started as Superintendent with AISD, he has worked towards tackling problems within the school district, necessitating tough decisions to keep Abilene schools on track. With Abilene ISD currently operating on a deficit budget, Dr. Khun says that these funds will go a long way in improving quality across the board with Abilene ISD schools.

“We’re asking for resources that will help us close the budget deficit, deal with inflation, pay our teachers better, and do good things for our kids,” said Kuhn.