ELECTION DAY
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ELECTION DAY •
Vote FOR Carroll ISD’s Future.
On November 4, vote FOR the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) to keep funding for teachers, programs, and students — without raising the overall tax rate.
Why the VATRE Matters
Carroll ISD is facing a deficit. Without the VATRE, our schools risk losing teachers, cutting programs, and reducing the opportunities that make our district one of the best in Texas.
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Keep our great teachers in our
classrooms
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Protect fine arts, athletics, and student programs
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Preserve Southlake’s tradition of academic excellence
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Support property values through
strong schools
This is not a tax increase
What is a vATRE?
A Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) is a state-required election that gives local voters the chance to decide how school district tax funds are allocated.
For Carroll ISD, the VATRE is about making sure we can keep teachers in classrooms, protect programs, and cover everyday operations like salaries and student services. Without it, the district faces a $3.8 million funding gap.
Ballot Language
State law requires VATRE ballots to use the words “tax increase” — even when the total tax rate is lower than the year before.
Here’s the truth for Carroll ISD:
2024–25 Tax Rate: $0.9617 per $100 valuation
Proposed 2025–26 Rate (with VATRE): $0.9294 per $100 valuation
That’s actually a tax rate decrease.
A FOR vote on the VATRE protects our schools and teachers, while keeping the total tax rate lower than last year.
Approving the VATRE isn’t just about schools, it’s about our community. Strong schools protect property values, attract businesses, and ensure every child in Carroll ISD has access to exceptional teachers and programs.
A FOR Vote
Benefits Everyone
As a PTO President and parent, I see firsthand how much our schools need this support. Prop A is about investing in our kids, our teachers, and the future of Southlake.
— Christine Kane, PTO President RES and Southlake Resident and Parent
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Southlake is home. My wife taught here, and now our three kids are dragons. A vote "yes" is step one to keeping great teachers in classrooms, further sustaining the legacy of excellence that our community expects.
— Jackson Hildebrand, Southlake Resident and Parent
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As a 25+ year Southlake resident, I deeply appreciate the excellence Carroll ISD has provided our community. Prop A will help ensure our kids receive the excellent education my own two daughters received.
— Glenn Davidson, Southlake Resident and Parent
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Voting yes on Prop A is the obvious choice!This money will help CISD maintain its high standard of excellence with retention of the best teachers, educators and resources for our children. This outstanding school system protects property values!
— Milt Millman, Southlake Resident and Parent
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CISD’S TAX RATE HAS BEEN REDUCED BY OVER 27% SINCE 2021.
If the VATRE passes, CISD’s new tax rate will be BELOW the No New Revenue rate AND will be more than 3 cents LOWER than last year’s rate - all while increasing local revenue by approximately $4 million.
Don’t let the ballot wording mislead you — the state requires the phrase “tax increase,” but approving the VATRE actually results in a reduced overall tax rate for our community.
With the Vatre,
we’ll see:
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Tax Rate
Decrease
If approved by voters, the school funding measure would result in a more than 3-cent decrease in the total tax rate compared to 2024.
Additionally, because the state's existing homestead exemption of $100,000 is expected to increase to $140,000 pending voter approval, a home would see its taxable value reduced by an additional $40,000.
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tax dollars
Stay local
Under the current Texas public school funding system, not all local tax dollars stay local. Carroll ISD sends a large portion of our local tax dollars back to the state every year for redistribution to other districts.
The funds that would be generated by this November’s school funding vote are different. They are 100% exempt from Recapture - so 100% of the increased revenue stays here in Carroll, supporting our students, staff, and schools directly.
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Revenue generation
The CISD Board of Trustees lowered the Interest & Sinking tax rate from $0.2948 to $0.2441. The Maintenance & Operations tax rate will increase from $0.6669 to $.6853 with the passage of the VATRE. The new overall tax rate would be $0.9294, resulting in a more than 3 cent lower overall tax rate from 2024.
Passing a VATRE will allow us to restructure our local tax dollars to generate more revenue, while keeping our total tax rate lower than ever before.
Your Voice
Matters
Mark Your Calendar & vote FOR our Dragons.
Early Voting:
October 20 – October 31, 2025
Election Day
November 4, 2025
Start Today
☆
Start Today ☆
Get Involved
Help Spread
the word
This campaign depends on community support. From donations to yard signs, every action makes a difference.
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A VATRE is a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election. It allows the community to vote on adjusting how tax dollars are allocated, giving Carroll ISD access to more funding for daily operations like teacher salaries, classrooms, and student programs.
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Not necessarily. The overall tax rate will actually be lower than last year. The VATRE shifts existing funds from the debt side (I&S) to the operations side (M&O), which allows more money to go directly to our schools without raising the total rate.
However, your property taxes could still increase if your home’s appraised value goes up - but that would happen with or without the VATRE.
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State law requires all VATRE ballot language to include the words “tax increase”, even if the total tax rate is actually lower than the year before. In Carroll ISD’s case, passing the VATRE will result in a reduced overall tax rate compared to last year.
The “increase” refers only to the portion of the tax rate dedicated to school operations (M&O), which shifts slightly higher so the district can access state funding. At the same time, the debt portion (I&S) decreases by more, which means the combined rate you pay will still be less than last year’s rate.
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If approved, the VATRE will provide about $3.8 million in additional revenue for the 2025–26 school year. This money will go directly to support teachers, staff, and student programs.
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Without this funding, Carroll ISD will face difficult cuts to staff and programs. That could mean fewer teachers, larger class sizes, reduced arts and athletics opportunities, and fewer resources for students.
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Texas school finance law limits how much revenue a district can collect without voter approval. Carroll ISD is already operating efficiently, but without a VATRE, the district can’t legally access the additional state funding needed to maintain current programs and staffing.
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Strong schools mean strong property values and a thriving community. By voting FOR the VATRE, you’re investing in teachers, students, and the reputation of Carroll ISD — which helps every homeowner and business.
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Election Day: November 4, 2025
Early Voting: October 20 – October 31, 2025
You can vote at your designated polling location in Tarrant County. Check [official county resources] (link placeholder) to find your polling place.
