Yoakum ISD requests Voter Approved Tax Rate Election

The Yoakum Independent School District (YISD) is requesting a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) to fund employee pay increases.

A VATRE is an election required to be held when the district adopts a tax rate that exceeds the amount allowed by the state. The local school funding election will ask YISD voters to consider whether or not the district can access three additional pennies to support salary increases for all staff. The district recognizes the pressing need to address the issues of staff retention, recruitment, and compensation.

“Our state revenue is based off of a basic allotment which has remained the same since 2019,” YISD Superintendent Tom Kelley said. “Maintenance and Operations expenses continue to increase, which include costs for new buses, bus repairs, insurance, electricity, and student meals. Costs skyrocketed after COVID and even though inflation continues to take a toll on the economy, the Texas Education Agency has not increased YISD’s allotment amount.”

“We need to stay competitive with area schools. This will help in recruiting new highly qualified teachers and retain our current teachers and staff. With voters’ approval, this will provide 5% pay increases, effective January 2025, for all YISD employees including teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, librarians, nurses, secretaries, custodians, food services, maintenance, and transportation staff.”

Based on the proposed tax rate of 1.00059 per $100 of taxable value, the average homeowner would pay an additional $2.42 per month; however, persons aged 65 and older, with homestead exemption, would not be affected by the increase. Additionally, this tax rate is a decrease from the 2023-2024 rate of 1.00904 per $100 of taxable value which makes it the lowest in 30 years.

Because YISD is currently classified as a property wealth recapture school district, YISD is obligated to send a portion of their collected funds back to the State.

The three golden pennies will generate approximately $857,208 through local and state funds every year. The positive feature about this is YISD gets to retain the funding from the three golden pennies each year.

Early voting runs through Friday, Nov. 1, and Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. All early voting in Lavaca County will take place at the Lavaca County Annex Building at 412 N. Texana St., Hallettsville.

In DeWitt County, early voting will take place at DeWitt Elections Office, 115 N. Gonzales St., Suite A, Cuero.

The main polling place for Gonzales County will be at the Randle Rather Building, 427 St. George Street, Gonzales and Branch polling places will be at Nixon City Building, 302 E. Central St., Nixon and Waelder City Hall, 300 U.S. Highway 90 W., Waelder.

Dates and times for Lavaca County early voting:

• Today through Friday, Oct. 25 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Saturday, Oct. 26 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 27 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

•  Monday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov. 1 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 Dates and times for DeWitt County early voting:

• Today through Friday, Oct. 25 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Saturday, Oct. 26 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 27 – 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

•  Monday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov. 1 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 Dates and times for Gonzales County early voting:

• Today through Friday, Oct. 25 – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

• Saturday, Oct. 26 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Sunday, Oct. 27 – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Monday, Oct. 28 through Friday, Nov. 1 – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.