Confusion reigns over district's rollback election
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Early voting began Monday, Oct. 22 for Jasper Independent School District's rollback tax election set for Nov. 6; however, there is some confusion among voters about what this means.

It is the term "rollback" that is confusing, said JISD Finance Director Carolyn Foster.

She explained that when a school district needs to go above the state's rate, public approval is automatically needed.

In August, the district's Board of Trustees voted to lower the property tax rate from $1.60 per $100 valuation to $1.34 for 2007-2008; even so, it is 13 cents above the state's rollback rate. The state rate is $1.04 plus 17 cents for bonded indebtedness which equals $1.21.

"Most often, the public gives that approval, but if they do not, then the rate rolls back to the state rate," Foster said.

JISD also approved a budget that is one percent less than last year, and the tax rate was lowered for the second consecutive year.

"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. Also, the 13 cents provides the district with additional state funding based on tax effort."

The "state funding based on tax effort" Foster refers to is part of the state funding formula for schools. When a district improves tax collections, increasing the local revenue, the state increases funding to that district.

"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," she said.

To further simplify the ballot, Foster added the following clarifications:

"A yes vote (FOR) will allow the district to fund the adopted budget, maintaining the programs that are in place and providing needed repairs to facilities.

A no vote (AGAINST) will cause restrictions and/or deletions of programs and the use of fund balance reserves in order to bring the budget back into balance, compromising the financial position of the district for future years."

The ad-valorem tax rollback election November 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 began Monday, October 22 and continues through Wednesday, October 31 from 8 am to 4 pm; additional dates are Thursday and Friday, November 1-2 from 8 am to 6 pm.

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