Props 11, 13, and VATRE deserving of your support
Editor, Property owners in the Boerne ISD can be thankful to the board of trustees for their continued efforts toward reducing school taxes.
In addition to lowering the local tax rate by 36 cents since 2018, the board of trustees has advocated at the State Legislature for reducing the school’s tax burden to property owners. They traveled to Austin and managed to meet with all elected representatives.
One of their priorities has been to lower local school property taxes. As a result, Texas voters will be asked to pass the increased homestead exemptions approved by state lawmakers and signed by the governor.
Propositions 11 and 13 must be approved by voters in order to realize the school tax reductions we see on our current 2025 tax bill. Seniors are especially grateful for the increased homestead exemption that significantly reduces their school taxes.
Also in the November election, the Boerne ISD board of trustees are asking for your support to help them provide appropriate wages to the school district’s employees.
The district’s pay scales are not adequate and not competitive with other local districts, so the trustees are asking for a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) in order to increase the pay scales for district employees.
The district has achieved an “A” rating from the state for many years and its employees have earned these increases.
As the board has supported reduced property taxes over the years for property owners in the district, its constituents can now support the trustees by approving the VATRE proposition on the November ballot.
By approving these three proposals, property owners will realize the tax reductions shown on their tax bills and support the local schools.
It’s the right thing to do.
Jerry Lamping Kendall County resident
Vote yes on Prop 14
Editor, Texans can have a big impact on dementia by voting “Yes” on Proposition 14 on Nov. 4.
If approved, Texas will allocate $3 billion over 10 years to the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund, which will create the largest state-funded research program for Alzheimer’s and other dementia in the country.
Like the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), which put Texas on the map for cancer research, DPRIT will put Texas at the forefront of Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention. This historic investment will accelerate the search for effective treatments, preventions and cures. It will provide much needed resources for families struggling to cope with these terrible diseases.
Investing in brain health will mean healthier communities, reduced longterm costs, and a stronger Texas economy. As a caregiver for the past seven years, I truly understand the need for this funding and ask that you join me by supporting and voting for Prop. 14.
Kevin Henning Boerne resident
Education under siege;
VATRE deserves vote
Editor, Voters, this is a call to action on behalf of Boerne ISD’s VATRE ballot funding proposal.
For more than 20 years, the state has recaptured our taxpayer dollars, approximately $120 million, to serve other school districts with lower tax bases rather than funding us all at equitable levels, per the Texas Constitution.
Kendall County taxpayers know this action as the state’s “Robin Hood” program. Additionally, the Legislature provides less funding per child to our district than it provides to other districts. These funding laws allow for other districts to pay their staff higher salaries than we can.
We are losing our teachers and other high-quality staff at an alarming, unsustainable rate.
As a previous Boerne ISD trustee and current master trustee of Texas Association of School Districts, I understand the unwarranted impact of this legislative action on our educational system, teachers and most of all our children.
While I normally am totally against any form of tax increase, please review the support information for the VATRE tax increase funding proposal.
Boerne ISD leadership has made significant cuts to the administrative budget while restructuring the organization and duty assignments.
It is now up to us, the voter, to do our part to ensure the future of our children and educational system.
This will take a grassroots effort so, please — Please spread the word and go vote.
Richard Elkins Boerne resident
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