Tax Ratification Election
In November 2018, Frisco ISD voters approved a tax swap that moved 13 pennies from the portion of the property tax rate that pays for debt to the portion that pays for operations. This will generate millions of dollars in additional operational funding without raising the total property tax rate.
Operating Recommendations
Operational revenue from the tax swap will be used to address items recommended by the Facilities and Programs Evaluation Committee that fell outside the scope of a bond program. The total cost of all of the committee’s recommendations, including the M&O costs associated with the bond program, require more than 16 pennies of M&O tax effort. However, because the TRE only raised the M&O rate by 13 cents, not all of the recommendations can be immediately implemented. Frisco ISD will use the additional funding to address immediate needs in the 2018-19 school year, but many recommendations will be prioritized into future budgets due to the difficulty of implementing changes that impact personnel and programs in the middle of the school year. FISD will continue to utilize the Long-Range Planning Committee to evaluate programs and services for the 2019-20 school year and beyond.
Fund projected operating costs related to recommended bond program
Possible Scope: Additional staff and operational costs for new facilities*, vehicles and programs; Outsource groundskeeping to allow maintenance department to focus on preventative maintenance
Projected Cost: $27.715 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 3.30
Areas Addressed: New Construction to Support Growth, Student Opportunity, Additional Safety & Security, Facility Maintenance, Refresh & Renewal, Future-Ready Learning, Recruitment & Retention
Note: *Basic operating costs for new schools (staffing, utilities and supplies) will eventually be offset by formula funding once enrollment in those schools reaches capacity
Class size reduction at all levels
Possible Scope: Reduce staffing ratios to 22:1 (K-4), 25:1 (5) and 26:1 average (6-12)
Projected Cost: $10.8 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 4.70
Areas Addressed: Student Opportunity, Future-Ready Learning
FAQ: How would the TRE impact class size?
Additional personnel for student intervention
Possible Scope: Additional counselor at each high school; additional security specialists
Projected Cost: $1 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 0.43
Areas Addressed: Additional Safety & Security
Expanded choice programs
Possible Scope: Add additional campuses to the AVID program; Expand online learning opportunities; Expand academies; expand STEM opportunities at the elementary level
Projected Cost: $4.58 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 1.99
Areas Addressed: Student Opportunity, Future-Ready Learning
Expanded early childhood and Pre-Kindergarten programs
Possible Scope: Increase capacity of early childhood program; expand Pre-K opportunities to full day
Projected Cost: $2.18 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 0.95
Areas Addressed: Student Opportunity, Future-Ready Learning
More competitive compensation
Possible Scope: Additional 1 percent built into baseline raises to increase raises from 2 percent to 3 percent annually; increase health premium contributions
Projected Cost: $7 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 3.04
Areas Addressed: Recruitment & Retention
Additional professional campus & District support staff
Possible Scope: Increase support staff to teacher ratio by approximately 1.5 percent (FISD’s ratio of support staff to teachers is approximately 3 percent behind peer districts)
Projected Cost: $3 million
Estimated M&O Pennies: 1.30
Areas Addressed: Recruitment & Retention