JISD OKs budget, sets tax rollback
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

The Jasper Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the proposed 2007-2008 budget in the amount of $23,878,843 and lowered the tax rate from $1.60 per $100 to $1.34 at a special public meeting Thursday, August 30.

The budget is one percent less than last year, and the tax rate was lowered for the second consecutive year.

In addition, the Board authorized a tax rollback election to be held November 6.

"Because the new tax rate reflects 13 cents above the state's rollback rate of $1.21, public approval is needed," said Finance Director Carolyn Foster, who presented and explained the budget process.

Foster said that the term "rollback" can be confusing. She explained that when a school district needs to go above the state's rate, then public approval is needed. Most often, the public gives that approval, but if they do not, then the rate rolls back to the state rate.

" We have worked out a balanced budget that is approximately one percent less than the prior year," Foster said. "The reason we need the extra 13 cents is to balance the budget. Without the 13 cents, the district will have to use fund balance reserves and this would compromise the financial position of the district for future years. Districts must then get approval from the public for any money above the state rate. The reason we didn't need to hold a rollback election last year was because we were declared a disaster area and we were allowed to exceed the state rate."

The ad-valorem tax rollback election Nov. 6 will be held in the community room of the JISD Administration Building at 128 Park Street from 7 am to 7 pm. Early voting by personal appearance begins Monday, Oct. 22 and continues through Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 8 am to 4 pm; additional dates are Thursday and Friday, Nov. 1-2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting by mail shall be conducted on those same dates. Ballots must arrive before the polls close on election day.

The Board also approved the 2007-2008 teacher salary schedule and pay scale for employees, reflecting a 3.50 percent median increase.

In addition, four new appointments were approved:

Sonny Armstong - B.A., Stephen F. Austin State University, history teacher at Jasper Junior High

Jamie Butler - B.S., Lamar University, sixth grade language arts teacher at Rowe Intermediate School

Staria Davis - RN, Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas, nurse at Jasper High School

Johnny Williams - M.Ed., Stephen F. Austin State University, part-time teacher at STARS campus

Two Level III parent complaints were heard in closed session. The Board then voted in open session to deny both.

The 2006-2007 budget was also amended for reclassification purposes in accordance with guidelines established by TEA's Financial Accountability Resource Guide.