Big Spring ISD looks to adopt budget, tax rate

August 29, 2012

Big Spring Independent School District trustees are expected to approve a budget and tax rate for the coming fiscal year when they hold a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the high school board room.

The new budget, officials say, is very similar to the previous package, with the obvious exception being that millions of dollars in construction bond money has been spent.

Construction resulting from the $60 million bond, approved by voters in 2010, is expected to wrap up by early next year.

Minus bond money, trustees are expected to approve $31.5 million in expenditures for the coming fiscal year, an increase of slightly more than $1 million in similar expenses during 2011-2012.

BSISD Business Manager Debbie Green said most of the increase will be accounted for in salaries — all district personnel will receive a 3 percent raise from the midpoint of their pay grade — and equipment purchases for the district's new elementary campuses.

Including bond money, district expenditures will total $36.1 million this coming fiscal year, Green said.

The new tax rate — $1.36 per $100 property valuation — is 8 cents lower than the previous fiscal year, largely because of decreased debt service obligations, Green said.

“Last year, we were very conservative in formulating what we expected from valuations and tax collections … and we brought in more revenue than we anticipated,” Green said.

In other business Thursday, trustees will consider:

• Employment recommendations.
• Resignations and retirements.
• Enrollment reports.