Voters in Frenship ISD will see three propositions on the November 5 ballot that would allow Frenship to increase teacher and staff salaries, build two additional elementary schools to accommodate student enrollment growth, and address other initiatives including heightened safety and security, transportation, and hiring additional staff to accommodate enrollment growth.
The 2024-2025 tax rate was Board-approved at $1.15670, slightly lower than the 2023-2024 tax rate of $1.15900. While it is Frenship’s lowest tax rate since 1993, it would still allow Frenship to build additional schools and address needs associated with a fast-growth district, if approved by voters.
Why a VATRE
(Proposition A)
The district’s tax rate is made up of two components. The maintenance and operations or “M&O” tax rate is how districts pay for day-to-day operations such as staff salaries, instructional materials, student programs, insurance, electricity, maintenance, and extracurricular activities. The interest and sinking or “I&S” tax rate is also known as the debt service tax rate. This component of the tax rate provides the money for districts to build new schools and address other major needs.
Tax Rate Lowered; Brings in Additional Funding for Day-to-Day Operations
For the 2023-2024 school year, Frenship’s M&O tax rate was $0.6790 and I&S rate was $0.48 to comprise the $1.1590 total tax rate. Frenship is proposing to increase the M&O rate by $0.08 to $0.75670 and lower the I&S rate by $0.08 to $0.40. This would lower the total tax rate from $1.1590 to $1.15670 and generate additional funding for teacher pay, recruiting teachers and staff as the district continues to grow, fund and expand student programs, improve campus security and maintain class sizes.
Increase Staff Salaries
If approved by voters, the VATRE would allow Frenship to provide teachers and staff an average 3% salary increase for the 2024-2025 school year in addition to the already Board-approved 2% average salary increase for a total average raise of 5% for the 2024-2025 school year for all teachers and staff.
Bond - $189.5 Million
(Proposition B)
The Board also approved putting Proposition B on the November 5 ballot which, if approved by voters, would provide $189,500,000 in funds to build two new elementary schools to address the growing student population.
As a fast-growth district, Frenship welcomes hundreds of new students each school year and currently serves more than 11,700+ students across 16 campuses in the Wolfforth and Lubbock communities. Frenship opened Alcove Trails Middle School in August of 2023, Ridgewood Elementary this August, and Frenship Memorial High School is set to open in August of 2025. According to demographic studies and new housing developments within the district, Frenship's elementary age enrollment is projected to increase by more than 1,000 students over the next five years. Two additional elementary schools are needed to accommodate that future growth. Proposition B would also include funding to improve campus safety and security, various renovations for existing campuses, and addressing the growing student transportation needs.
Technology - $10 Million
(Proposition C)
The Board also approved putting Proposition C on the November 5 ballot which, if approved, will provide $10,000,000 in funding for instructional technology needs. This technology bond would allow the district to maintain a 1:1 technology for both students and staff by purchasing additional technology devices and replacing older devices. Unlike bonds for school buildings that are repaid over an extended period of time, the technology bond would be repaid in five years or less, due to the short useful life of technology.
Tax Rate Facts
2024-2025 Tax Rate: $1.15670
(I&S Rate $0.40 / M&O Rate $0.75670)
2023-2024 Tax Rate: $1.15900
(I&S Rate $0.48 / M&O Rate $0.6790)
The overall tax rate for the current school year is slightly lower than last year's tax rate of $1.15900. The current tax rate includes the increase of $0.08 to the M&O rate and the decrease of $0.08 to the I&S rate.
Due to the commercial and residential growth in Frenship ISD, the current tax rate will generate more revenue at the lower rate. As a result, the propositions will be labeled a “tax increase” on the ballots. Homeowners may also see an increase in their property taxes due to an increase in appraised property values set by the appraisal district.
Taxpayers 65 & Older
Taxes paid by taxpayers over 65 are capped at the amount paid in the year they turned 65 and cannot increase beyond that amount unless they make improvements to their property. Taxpayers must apply at http://lubbockcad.org/forms
Proven to be Fiscally Responsible
For the last 20 years, Frenship ISD has received the highest rating of financial integrity by the state. Frenship currently holds a “Superior” rating with the highest score in the District’s history. Frenship also received a ‘AAA Bond Rating’ (according to Fitch) showing the District remains fiscally responsible with taxpayer money as well as a history of paying debt on time. Since 2012, Frenship has saved more than $53 million by paying off existing debt early.
Since 2019, the Texas Legislature has not increased the student allotment funding for public schools, despite rising costs, unfunded state mandates, and inflation increasing by 19%.
While many school districts across the state are approving multi-million-dollar deficit budgets, the Frenship ISD Board of Trustees passed a balanced budget that included an average 2% salary increase for all Frenship teachers and staff for the 2024-2025 school year.
Tax Rate History
During the last bond in November of 2020, the tax rate was set at $1.42, $0.26 higher than the current tax rate for 2024-2025. Not only has the tax rate steadily decreased, but the current 2024-2025 tax rate is the lowest since 1993.
2014-2024 Tax Rate History
