East Texas

By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
BULLARD -- Bullard Independent School District will host a community forum tonight regarding the upcoming tax ratification election.

The forum, scheduled for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Bullard High School Audry B. Owens Auditorium, will give residents a chance to ask questions about the election, which is Sept. 18.

Superintendent Keith Bryant said he and School Board President Dr. John Alexander will speak to attendees, and a teacher will present information.

However, he said, school officials can't tell people why they need to vote for or against the issue.

The district is looking to move 13 cents from the interest and sinking tax rate to the maintenance and operations tax rate to maximize funding from the state.

A ratification election is necessary, even though the overall tax rate would remain the same.

The district's current total tax rate is $1.47 per $100 of valuation. If rates are redistributed, M&O and I&S would be at $1.17 and 30 cents respectively.

That means the tax bill for a $100,000 home would increase about $130 for M&O but would decrease by the same amount for I&S, Bryant said. Therefore, the overall bill from the district

(based on the district tax rate)

would be the same.

If the election passes, Bullard ISD is expected to get about $442,000 to help fund laptop computers and small capital improvement projects, such as a new storage facility and irrigation work.

The laptops would be given in phases, with middle school students receiving them in 2011-12 and high school students receiving them in 2012-13.

"The board's position has been to increase our technology, and our interest has always been giving the teachers and giving the administration and giving the students the tools to better address the education of the kids." Alexander said. "That all takes money and that money has to come from somewhere … This is the way we have found to help our district and help our taxpayers. I hope they (the community) can respect our decision making and our debate."

Tonight will be the third forum for Bullard ISD since calling the election.

Bryant said about 10 people came to the first forum and four came to the second.

"They just have listened and have had specific questions," he said. "People are interested in where the tax dollars are going."

He said he hopes people will come by the administration building and ask questions if they can't come to the last forum.

Police: Boy Helps Capture Plane Theft Suspect   02/08/12
Whitehouse Teacher Proposes At Basketball Game -- And She Said Yes!   02/08/12
Community Mourns Loss Of 3 Best Friends   02/07/12
Winnsboro Man Gets 33 Years In Child Beating Case   02/07/12
Firefighters: Smoke At Tyler Paper Likely From Old A/C Unit   02/07/12
Child Battles Very Rare, Incurable, Fatal Disease   02/07/12
Grassroots Group Scrutinizes TISD Long-Range Plan   02/08/12
Trial Set Thursday For Man Accused In Deputy's Shooting   02/07/12
Komen Official Quits After Planned Parenthood Dispute   02/07/12
Woman Found Along Interstate Died From Cocaine Use   02/06/12
Teacher, 26, Killed In Accident   02/04/12
Brother Enters Plea, Gets 20 Years For Shooting Sister   02/03/12
Baseball Legend’s Wife Pays Visit To Texas College   02/06/12
Tyler ISD Long-Range Plan OK'd   02/07/12
Firefighters Respond To TMT Smoke   02/08/12
Saturday Wreck Kills Three In Rusk County   02/06/12
Republican Face Off In Cherokee County GOP Forum   02/08/12
UT Tyler, Discovery Science Place Forming Collaboration   02/07/12
Three Illegal Aliens Sentenced   02/08/12
Jasilyn Schaefer Named New Director Of Apache Belles   02/08/12