In want of some additional money, South San Antonio Unbiased College District will ask voters to vary its tax price to in November.
Superintendent Saul Hinojosa mentioned South San’s tax price would keep the identical — voters would simply must inexperienced mild transferring pennies from the aspect that pays off bonds to the aspect colleges can use extra freely.
South San’s voter approval tax price election, or VATRE, is to maneuver 7-cents from its curiosity and sinking price, which pays for bond tasks, to its upkeep and operations price that covers day-to-day prices, like worker pay, pupil applications and utilities. This is able to unlock an additional $6 million to $8 million a 12 months for the district.
College districts can change tax charges on their very own, however solely minimally, and seven cents requires voter approval.
Due to a brand new state regulation aiming to rein in native tax will increase from faculty districts and municipalities, South San additionally has to finish an inside effectivity audit by early July earlier than the district can truly maintain an election.
Hinojosa mentioned South San is in an excellent place financially, passing a balanced price range final 12 months and even seeing a small surplus this 12 months, an unusual feat in comparison with neighboring faculty districts.
However the district has growing old buildings and several other campuses want quick repairs and upkeep work on roofs and HVAC methods. South San operates 14 campuses and serves round 7,000 college students on the Southwest Facet of San Antonio.
“We had a heavy thunderstorm yesterday and there have been six campuses that had leaks,” mentioned Hinojosa throughout a June 16 interview. “Proper earlier than faculty set free, we did must relocate college students … due to the quantity of water that was coming into the classroom.”
He mentioned it might value round $2.5 million to $3 million to repairs faculty roofs throughout the district. South San additionally has $25 million price of HVAC deferred upkeep.
Whereas most districts would doubtless subject a bond for tasks like roof and HVAC repairs, Hinojosa mentioned the wants at South San are too urgent, and the district doesn’t have the capability but to exit for a bond.
The VATRE funds would additionally cowl 5% raises for paraprofessionals, instructing and educational aides, a number of of which make lower than $15 an hour proper now.
South San’s VATRE would additionally faucet into what’s known as golden and copper pennies, mechanisms faculty districts can use the place the state matches what taxpayers pay as much as a sure level, producing additional income. Golden pennies are price greater than copper pennies.
However Bexar County voters have proven little urge for food for varsity tax measures in latest election cycles. Final 12 months, voters mentioned no to VATREs in Judson ISD, East Central ISD and Schertz-Cibolo-Common Metropolis ISD, exhibiting extra favorable attitudes for bond proposals.
Two of San Antonio’s largest faculty districts, San Antonio ISD and Northside ISD, may be going out for VATREs and bond elections of their very own this 12 months, probably translating into increased tax charges in these areas.
In contrast to South San, each SAISD and NISD are dealing with price range deficits. That is the truth for many districts throughout Texas.
The final time South San went out for a tax price election was in 2010, when voters handed $58 million bond measures that centered on the district’s flagship highschool. The measure handed with a slim 59-vote margin.
‘On observe’ for voter assist
Hinojosa is optimistic and seems like South San heading in the right direction for voter assist.
He’s been floating the concept to local people members, householders associations and enterprise house owners since January, and he says all have been supportive.
As soon as recognized for board infighting and investigated for monetary mismanagement by the state, the South San is at the moment beneath state management.
In February of 2025, the Texas Schooling Company changed South San’s superintendent with Hinojosa, previously superintendent of Somerset ISD just a few miles away. TEA additionally changed elected trustees with a board of managers who utilized for these seats.
Beneath Hinojosa’s administration, South San minimize its price range deficit, which elevated to $12 million in 2023. The district additionally carried out workers cuts and new hiring methods, paying lecturers extra primarily based on efficiency and certifications, launching a partnership with Educate For America in February and phasing out uncertified lecturers.
South San can be on observe to being debt free by 2033 from the 2010 bond election.
The district additionally took benefit of the state’s “catastrophe pennies,” a mechanism faculty districts who’ve been affected by extreme climate occasions can activate to get additional cents from the state for each taxpayer greenback. Catastrophe pennies solely work for one 12 months, and can expire at South San this August, having generated a further $3 million for pay incentives and big-ticket purchases.
This 12 months, South San additionally noticed tutorial progress in grade-level efficiency on the STAAR check for many grades and topics in comparison with 2025. Hinojosa mentioned commencement charges additionally elevated by 88% to 95% in a single 12 months.
“We’ve methods in place right here on the district degree, and we’re going to proceed to deal with bettering our tutorial outcomes,” he mentioned.
