Mansfield ISD lowers tax rate

Mansfield ISD’s tax rate is decreasing from $1.4183 to $1.3346 per $100 of certified property value. The MISD School Board approved the lower rate at the regular board meeting Aug. 23.

“This is the lowest our tax rate has been in quite some time, and we are grateful for our Business Services Department working so hard to look for any benefit we can provide for our community,” said Board President Courtney Lackey Wilson.

Under the new tax rate, approximately 98 cents will go toward the maintenance and operations fund, and 36 cents is for the debt service fund.

The maintenance and operations budget funds daily costs and recurring or consumable expenditures, such as teacher and staff salaries, supplies, food, gas and utilities. The debt service fund is used to repay debt for longer-term capital improvements approved by voters through bond elections.

Mansfield ISD’s 2022-23 budget was approved in June. The balanced budget includes raises for all employees, as announced in April. The new starting teacher pay will be $60,500. There will also be no increase to medical insurance premiums.

The budget process started in December. Michele Trongaard, associate superintendent of business and finance, noted that everyone in the decision-making process made sure that the holistic well-being of students was at the forefront.

“This is a well-thought-out, balanced budget that supports Vision 2030 while granting employees raises and making sure students are always first,” said Trongaard. “Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Kimberley Cantu and the members of our school board, we were able to accomplish this and move our mission forward of inspiring and educating students to be productive citizens.”

Mansfield ISD’s 2022-23 general operating budget totals $345.4 million. Debt service, which funds capital improvements, is $67.3 million. The budget for student nutrition, which is not funded through local tax dollars, was approved for a little less than $22 million.

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