The Tarrant Appraisal District鈥檚 annual budget for 2025 will take effect despite a series of protest votes by area school districts, the board of directors confirmed at a Sept. 9 meeting.
Nine Tarrant County school districts voted to formally disapprove the Tarrant Appraisal District鈥檚 recommended budget in an effort to protest a reappraisal plan they fear will cut resources for students in their care. That plan includes three prongs intended to 鈥� and reduce property tax bills 鈥� for residential properties.
The appraisal district鈥檚 budget must be approved by a majority of the taxing entities, which include school districts, cities and other special districts. Taxing entities do not, however, have to approve the reappraisal plan for it to move forward 鈥� making vetoing the budget the only way to exert influence over the district and push for changes. Fort Worth ISD and Arlington ISD were among the school districts to .
But, by the end of Sept. 9 鈥� the last day for taxing entities to lodge their complaints about the budget 鈥� no other taxing entities had joined the nine school districts in condemning the budget. Some other school district boards, like Mansfield鈥檚, considered a resolution disapproving the budget but ultimately decided against it.
The budget itself marks a significant increase from the year prior, though almost all of that increase comes from investments in improved software following a in the spring.
School superintendents and chief financial officers previously about the reappraisal plan鈥檚 impact on state school financing, but the appraisal district鈥檚 board of directors and promised to consider negative impacts as they arose.
Many districts are already facing deficits for their 2025 budgets, blaming the gaps on and inflation. Districts like Northwest ISD are of a higher tax rate this November to cover costs. The reappraisal plan could lead to further funding issues, officials said.
Which districts voted to disapprove the Tarrant Appraisal District鈥檚 budget?
Arlington ISD, Azle ISD, Crowley ISD, Everman ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, Kennedale ISD, Lake Worth ISD and Northwest ISD voted to disapprove the budget.
At the Sept. 9 meeting, board members took issue with the way school districts have described the reappraisal plan and the motivations behind it. A letter signed by nine school board presidents laid out millions in potential funding losses, described the plan as political theater and said it intentionally hurts children.
The board鈥檚 three newest members 鈥� Matt Bryant, Eric Morris and Callie Rigney 鈥� ran on a platform of capping residential appraisal increases at 5% and limiting appraisals to once every three years. All Tarrant County Judge Tim O鈥橦are.
Board member Gary Losada said board members did not receive the letter but heard about it from the media. He called it disrespectful, and said the charges in the letter are nonsense, citing his own children鈥檚 enrollment in Arlington public schools.
鈥淭he fact that I鈥檇 want to defund schools is the most disrespectful charge I鈥檝e had in my life,鈥� he said.
Board member Rich DeOtte echoed much of Losada鈥檚 sentiment. He wants the county to have a good education system, he said, but added that the public education system has received backlash not just for its spending but also for its curriculum. DeOtte said at the end of the day, everyone works for the taxpayers.
鈥淧eople are acknowledging nationwide what Tarrant County is doing with appraisals, and I鈥檓 proud of that,鈥� he said.
Representatives from several school districts were present at the meeting but did not speak. Fred Campos, an Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD board trustee, was the lone school district representative to speak at the meeting. He started speaking in his capacity as a Bedford resident before putting on an HEB ISD ballcap and switching gears to speak as a trustee.
鈥淵ou guys are a double standard,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e asking for money, and then lowering it (for school districts).鈥�
Because of the nature of the state鈥檚 school funding mechanism, school districts until 2026, more than five months after 2025 tax rolls are certified. Board members said they鈥檙e committed to reevaluating appraisals in school districts on a case-by-case basis if it becomes clear that a particular district is facing significant shortfalls.