Below are some of the most frequently asked questions during the Long Range Facility Planning Committee process. We will add questions to this page as they arise throughout the work of the committee.
HOW DOES SCHOOL FUNDING WORK IN TEXAS?
Texas school districts are funded by three major sources: Federal, State, and Local. Two factors drive school finance in Texas: enrollment, and local property values. A school district tax rate has two distinct components which added together make up the annual school tax rate:
Maintenance and Operations (M&O) funds are used to fund the day-to-day operations of a school district, including teacher and staff salaries; utilities; student services and curriculum; professional development; and facility maintenance and management.
Interest and Sinking (I&S) funds are generated from the sale of voter-approved bonds. These funds are restricted for use only for projects such as the construction of new facilities; additions and renovations to existing facilities; safety and security projects; and purchase of capital expense items such as buses and large technology expenses.
School property taxes are set by an annual M&O plus I&S tax rate approved by the district’s Board of Trustees.
WHO DETERMINES MY PROPERTY VALUES?
Actual property values are determined annually by local appraisal districts. School districts have no control over and do not set local property values.
WHAT IS EFISD'S CURRENT TAX RATE?
As of the 2022-2023 school year, EFISD's tax rate consisted of the following:
M&O Tax Rate = $0.8546 per $100 valuation
I&S Tax Rate = $0.0393 per $100 valuation
Total Tax Rate = $0.8939 per $100 valuation
WHAT IS THE STATE'S FUNDING FORMULA FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
The state calculates each district's allotment based upon the number of students in the district and the composition of needs of those students. A district is allotted an amount per student for basic educational services (currently $6,160 per student). Additional allotments are given for students that require additional services and must be spent on those students.