ArchivesDISD enrollment creeps up as tax rate creeps downDISD enrollment creeps up as tax rate creeps downEnrollment is up and the tax rate is down, again, at Dalhart Independent School District, according to information released at the Aug. 20 school board meeting. The district had 1,743 students enrolled as of Monday morning, and Superintendent Jeff Byrd said that number is increasing slowly each year by approximately 80 and 100 students since he began with the district in 2022-23. The approved tax rate of .9813 per $100 of property valuation is less than last year’s .992 rate, but individual property taxes may still increase due to higher property values. Maintenance and Operations tax rates for DISD have been compressed continually since 2005, when they were at $1.42 – they were just approved at .6513, along with the Interest and Sinking rate of .28. Byrd and DISD Board President Bob Bailey explained during the meeting that setting the tax rate takes balance – property taxes must cover the adopted budget but the more money a school district generates locally, the less state funding it receives. “Our student enrollment has increased, inflation on everything costs more, we approved a 4% pay increase to remain competitive to retain and recruit teachers to Dalhart,” Byrd said, explaining increases in the 2024-25 DISD budget. In addition to adopting the tax rate, trustees approved donations from the Junior High PTO of $4,552 for science lab tables and from KB Car Wash of $1,000 for football uniforms. They also approved out-of-state travel for staff and students, budget amendments, purchases, goals and performance measures. For the full story SUBSCRIBE to the online edition of The Dalhart Texan, call (806) 244-4511 to setup a subscription to our physical paper or pick a copy up at one of our many convenient news rack locations. You can also stop by and purchase a paper or subscription in person at our news office located at 410 Denrock Ave. |
