Ysleta ISD says residents that homeowners’ taxes won’t rise with new rate

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- If you live in the Lower Valley, East or Far Northeast El Paso, a new proposition will be on your ballot this November.

On Wednesday, The Ysleta Independent School District will give voters the power to allow the district to raise its tax rate beyond what Texas law allows to save its financial status.

Wednesday, the district's board of trustees voted unanimously to approve a voter-approval tax ratification election (VATRE), which is scheduled to be on the ballot for residents this November.

If VATRE is rejected, the board will have to adopt a lower rate of $1.19 per $100.

However, VATRE passes, it would have little to no impact on most homeowners’ tax bills, according to YISD. It said more than two thirds of almost 40,000 homeowners don't pay school property tax to the district.

According to the El Paso Central Appraisal District, over 26,000 YISD homeowners will pay no school tax regardless of whether the issue passes or fails.

This is because their exemption values exceed their homes' taxable values, or they qualify as 100% disabled veterans, who are fully exempt from all property taxes in Texas.

Meaning that homes valued at $175,000 or less in the district won’t owe school property taxes this year regardless of the outcome of the election, and any home owned by someone over age 65 or disabled valued at $250,000 or less is exempt from school taxes.

However, those homeowners still pay taxes to the city, county, hospital district and community college.

The approved tax ratification election will be held Nov. 3, with early voting scheduled for Oct. 19-30. The last day to register to vote in that election is Oct. 5.