East Texas

By COSHANDRA DILLARD
Staff Writer

MINEOLA­ -- Mineola Independent School District trustees' proposed tax rate and budget almost mirror the figures from last year. Business manager William Bjork said the tax rate would remain $1.17 per $100 property valuation, all of which is designated for maintenance and operations. The district has no unpaid bonded debt. The proposed budget of $12.3 million is only $392 more than last year.

Bjork said that, while the increase in gasoline prices influenced the district's budgeting, they were still able to work with the same amount of funding.

"We had to raise some areas, but we lowered other areas to compensate," he said.

Bjork said the biggest decrease in allotment was for the facilities and construction part of the budget. It took a cut of more than $500,000 to make up for increases in almost all other items on the budget. Bjork noted that the district would only address immediate maintenance needs of the two older campuses in the district, which date back to 1968. He said renovations and other improvements would have to wait.

"We are just doing what is absolutely necessary," he said.

Although the tax rate and budget is virtually the same, Mineola ISD homeowners will not see a decrease in their tax bills.

Since the average home values increased by about 3 percent -- going from $71,383 in 2007 to $74,169 this year -- taxpayers will see a tax bill increase of about $32.

Bjork said the proposed tax rate would generate $484,000 in revenue; however, the district would receive about $400,000 less from state funding due to the increase in home values.

Mineola ISD trustees will hold another budget workshop and public hearing at 8 a.m. Aug. 30.

Bjork said they expect to adopt the proposed tax rate and budget at that time.