Calhoun County ISD asks voters to consider VATRE

Calhoun County ISD asks voters to consider VATRE

The Calhoun County ISD Board of Trustees approved an order to call for a Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The VATRE will ask voters to consider a $0.03 increase to the district’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate, from $0.6754 to $0.7054 per $100 of property value. 

The proposed VATRE applies only to the district’s M&O tax rate. However, the district’s total tax rate for 2026-2027 also reflects a two-cent decrease in the Interest and Sinking (I&S) rate and a continued reduction in the M&O tax rate resulting from state-mandated tax rate compression. As a result, if voters approve the proposed VATRE, the district’s total tax rate would increase by $0.0024, or approximately one-quarter of a cent, compared to last year’s total rate.

The proposed VATRE is estimated to generate $1.6 million in annual funding for Calhoun County ISD that would remain with the district and not be subject to state recapture.

The proposed VATRE is part of the district’s strategy to address budget shortfalls, maintain employee compensation, and support student programs, instructional supplies, and essential operating expenses.

More information about the proposed VATRE will be posted to www.calcoisd.org