Spring Branch ISD taxpayers will benefit from a significant decrease in their school taxes after the district’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously Oct. 29 to adopt a district tax rate of $1.285, or 34.65 cents less than a year ago.

The Board of Trustees adopted the 2007 school tax rate after two public hearings. As adopted, SBISD’s tax rate is now at its lowest level since before 1994.

The new school tax rate is $1.285 per $100 in assessed value, down from $1.6315 per $100 in assessed valued. The tax rate reductions are due to changes in public school financing enacted by the Texas Legislature.

The tax rate will generate $250.2 million for the district’s General Fund Budget and $33.6 million for its Debt Service Budget.

Based on comparisons of 2007 tax rates adopted or proposed, SBISD’s $1.285 rate remains much lower than nearby Katy ISD’s $1.526 rate, the highest overall tax rate among school districts in the region.

Spring Branch is one of the few remaining school districts in Harris County to give its taxpayers relief by offering every tax break allowed by law, including the 20 percent homestead exemption.

School taxes in Katy ISD would be $2,824 for the owner of a $200,000 home, without homestead exemption. The same homeowner living in Spring Branch receives the 20 percent homestead exemption and pays $1,863, the second lowest amount for school taxes in the region – less than Cy-Fair, Aldine, Alief, Klein, Humble and many other suburban homeowners pay.

In addition, Spring Branch residents who are 65 years or older, or disabled, and who qualify for homestead exemption and file for the Over 65 or disabled exemptions will see a decrease in their school tax rates. Tax levies for these homeowners, in fact, will be reset this year at an all-time lower level and will not increase in the future.

Reductions for seniors and disabled homeowners occur as a result of a constitutional amendment approved by state voters in May.

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posted 10-31-07