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The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

The online student news source of Lovejoy High School

The Red Ledger

Updated: Tax ratification election voting to end May 21

District: Increase needed to offset loss in state funding
There+has+been+a+lot+of+debate+over+the+new+tax+that+voters+may+choose+to+enact+which+would+fill+gaps+the+district+says+it+needs+to+fill.
Stu Mair
There has been a lot of debate over the new tax that voters may choose to enact which would fill gaps the district says it needs to fill.

Editor’s note: this story is continually being updated as the election unfolds.

Spring has brought an influx of rain, AP testing, and more recently, voting signs emblazoned in red that stand either “for” or “against” the proposed tax ratification. Voting ends Saturday, May 21, and if passed, the district says the TRE will help make up for the district’s financial losses, as well as increase teacher salaries, since the state took $2 million from the annual budget in 2011.

“We lost 2.8 million [in 2011] and they only gave us back 700,000, so that put us 2.1 million in the hole,” superintendent Ted Moore said. “So every year since, our state funding has been two million dollars less than what it should be. Now we are in a place where we need to plug that two million dollar hole. There are two ways we can do it. We can have the taxpayers agree, and it’s their choice, that they can vote and we will raise taxes 11 pennies, which will bring in about 2 million dollars, so that gets us back even and we can keep everything we’ve got.”

Though there are many community members that are for the tax, many voters are campaigning against it.
Stu Mair
Though there are many community members that are for the tax, many voters are campaigning against it.

The TRE would increase the Maintenance and Operations tax rate by 11 cents, from $1.06 to $1.17.

If the TRE does not pass, Moore said programs may have to be cut including middle school soccer and wrestling, limiting travel stays for academic and athletic competitions, reducing STEM offerings below the high school level, and eliminating the elementary assistant principal position. Among other things, teacher salaries will also not be raised if voters do not approve the tax increase.

“We have to approve a budget for next school year by June 30 and we are locked into what we are going to pay teachers next year,” Moore said. “So we’ve got to develop a budget. We’ve got to inform teachers on how much money they’re going to make. Really, we surveyed the districts around us, and all the districts around us are planning to pass along somewhere between 2.5-3 percent raise to all of their teachers, so we want to keep up so that our teachers are making as much as teachers in surrounding districts.”

An opposition group called “Lovejoy Tax Hike” has formed a website and posted signs around the community, claiming that the school’s financial situation is a “spending priority issue.”

“Lovejoy Tax Hike supports our students and teachers, but with consideration for ALL taxpayers,” the political action committee said in a response to an email. “An analysis of the current revenues received by the district show there are sufficient funds to give teachers a raise. We believe ALL taxpayers should have been notified of this election because they are the ones who will pay.”

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In contrast to its opposition group, the district’s TRE page maintains that the school cannot increase teacher salary without a tax increase.

“Even though our taxable values are growing, the State of Texas uses a “Hidden Robin Hood” method so that the State benefits from those increased values,” the district page says. “For each dollar of increased local tax revenue, the State of Texas Reduces our state revenue by one dollar.”

Ultimately, Moore said, the 2016-17 budget is in the hands of the community.

“This is just the community’s choice, and I respect people’s right to vote in whatever way they feel is the best interest to the community,” Moore said. “I just want people to know that it’s their vote and their choice. Whatever the community chooses to do, I’m going to have a happy heart about that, I’m gonna respect that, and then we’re going to have to to what we have to do to live within the money that we’ve got.”

Early voting locations and dates can be found here.

More information from the district about the TRE can be found here.

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About the Contributors
Jillian Sanders, Editor-in-Chief
Jillian Sanders is a senior, 18 years old, and a lover of many things. She loves writing, playing the piano, reading, being outside, Younglife, and choir. She was born in Arkansas, but got out of there and moved to Texas as soon as possible when she was six years old. At home, she has two dogs, two sisters, and two house plants. She enjoys analyzing, creating, and playing music both at home and at her church, where she plays the keyboard on Sunday mornings in the praise band. The keys to Jillian’s heart can be found in nature, (she really loves nature. It’s pretty neat.), music (she cries over pretty songs), and cozy socks. She plans to attend Texas A&M University in 2017, (whoop), with a major in environmental studies. Serving the Red Ledger for her fourth and final year as three-time editor-in-chief, she is super pumped to write stories, improve the site even further, and leave a lasting legacy.
Caroline Smith, Editor-in-Chief
Caroline Smith is a senior who loves to travel, drink coffee, and eat snacks. Her favorite hot tea is Harney and Son’s “Hot Cinnamon Sunset, which she loves to enjoy while wrapped up in a warm, fuzzy blanket and eating a blueberry scone warmed up. This past summer, she lived in Swaziland for a month and had the adventure of a lifetime (even though her house was ant infested). She has two rabbits, two puppies, and three siblings, so rest assured that her home is never boring. Ever. Caroline hates free time, so she instead fills her days with choir, newspaper, Younglife, PALS, her part time job as a barista at Saxbys, and Netflix. Previously known as the glorious managing editor (and eternal freshman) for the past three years, Caroline is super excited to return for her final year on staff as the Editor-in-Chief of this lovely website.
Stu Mair, Photo Editor
Stu Mair has been taking pictures of things for years, but has only been on The Red Ledger’s staff for a year. Now the editor of the photo department, he ensures that noteworthy events receive coverage from the Red Ledger. Stu splits his time between several extracurriculars, which has severely adverse effects to his amount of sleep. He is passionate about many things, and photography is one of those things. When he isn’t standing on the sideline taking photos of various sporting events, he can be found reading textbooks or chilling by the pool. Stu is sad that his high school career and his time at the Red ledger is coming to an end, but he is also excited to head to college and turn over a new page in life.

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  • L

    Lovejoy Tax HikeMay 17, 2016 at 12:06 pm

    Nicely done!

    Very balanced and informative article.

    Reply