South Texas ISD Superintendent To Urge Continued Support At Tonight’s Edinburg City Council Meeting

Edinburg TX – February 20, 2023

Dr. Marco Antonio Lara, Jr, South Texas Independent School District superintendent, will be on hand at tonight’s Edinburg City Council meeting to urge them to support STISD’ continued taxing authority. 

The issue of STISD’s taxing authority has been raised by a number of school districts in the region, including Edinburg CISD, arguing that, among other things, this results in double taxation for Edinburg taxpayers, does not guarantee all students an opportunity to attend and gives STISD an unfair funding advantage.

In tonight’s presentation, Lara will argue that much of the information that has been presented by other school districts is incomplete and inaccurate.

Specifically, Lara will presentation information to counter what STISD calls myths in the debate.

Myth: STISD has changed from its original intent. STISD was originally created asa rehabilitation district int eh 1960s to serve special needs students. However, changes in legislation mandated that special needs students be mainstreamed and served in their home districts. After that, STISD was authorized to offer vocational magnet schools, and STISD has been operating in this capacity for more than 40 years. STISD continues to serve students with special needs with full-time enrollment and half-day Career and Technical Education programs for all interested students.

Myth: duplication of taxes. The tax rate of $0.0492 is minimal and costs the average homeowner approximately $5.33 per month. This provides students and families with a choice should they choose to pursue a high-quality public school education from one of the top schools in the nation, at less than a nickel per $100 valuation. There are other taxing entities that serve legitimate public purposes for the greater community that the taxpayer may not directly benefit from. For examples property tax owners pay taxes to home district regardless of if they have school-age children, and families whose children attend STISD pay public school property taxes at their home district.

Myth: STISD receives more funding than other districts. The information that is being spread in support of these efforts is inaccurate. The actual revenues that STISD receives is considerably less compared to other school districts that are able to receive other sources of revenue that South Texas ISD cannot access, such as Interest and Sinking (I&S), IFA, and EDA, and more. Because STISD does not receive the same type of funding as other districts, tax revenues pay for maintenance and construction of facilities, as well as the unique costs associate diwth servicing three counties such as free transportation. Other school districts are able to receive considerable additional funding for these services

Myth: STISD is not available to all students. All students from the three counties served are able to attend STISD, and free transportation to and from STISD campuses is available to all students at their home cities. The only limitation to enrollment is the physical capacity at each of the campuses.

Lara will also provide information that shows that other school districts in Region One have higher total revenues per student (including local, state and federal funding), among them:

• Edinburg CISD: $18,740
• Mercedes ISD: $17,976
• Raymondville ISD: $21, 717
• San Perlita ISD: $22,057
• Webb CISD: $35,561

Alanis will request that the Edinburg City Council continue to support the alternative educational opportunities that STISD provides students.

In his presentation, Lara will also note that STISD is home to some of the best schools in the nation, and that STISD is a choice, not a competition with other public schools.