Voters OK Midway VATRE, Mart bond on Election Day

Midway Independent School District’s Voter Approved Tax Rate Election passed a 3-cent increase in the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate by a margin of 83% to 17%, with 6,290 out of 7,582 voters approving and 1,292 voting against.

The proposition on the ballot completes a shift in district tax revenue from debt service to M&O. The school board previously reduced the debt service rate by 3 cents because of increased property values and a favorable position paying off prior bond issues. To raise the M&O rate by a corresponding 3 cents required voter approval.

Voters ratified a 2023-24 tax rate of 93.9 cents per $100 property valuation. That rate is 18.5 cents below last year’s rate of $1.12, a cut made possibly by recent legislation that “compresses” or reduces local property taxes with the help of additional state funding.

Under state funding formulas, the M&O tax increase, combined with an extra drawdown of state funds it triggers, will generate an additional $3.75 million in operational funding for Midway, according to the district.

District Superintendent Chris Allen said Tuesday’s vote validates his unwavering commitment to his teachers.

“The key takeaway from tonight’s overwhelming support is that our community believes in and supports our teachers,” Allen said.

The district will spend the additional $3.75 million in M&O funds to pay employees, including teachers, security personnel, librarians, nurses, coaches, food workers, bus drivers, groundskeepers and maintenance employees.

This $3.75 million will help to offset a projected $5.5 million shortfall in the M&O budget that would have affected the district immediately if voters had not approved the VATRE.

Now, it looks like the district will not have to find quite as much other savings.

“School districts tend to have positive variance in budgets and we’ll be a bit better off by the end of the year,” Allen said. “We will not waver on commitment to provide competitive compensation to staff. With the success of the VATRE, we can close the gap with belt tightening and finding efficiencies.”

The superintendent said he will not have to reduce programs for students. His campuses will still offer the same number of sports, electives and clubs.

“We very much appreciate this sign of support,” Allen said. “We appreciate the voters going out to show the will of the community.”

In Mart ISD, voters approved the following bond issues totaling $50 million:

Proposition A, which includes $33 million for renovating, expanding or rehabilitating the elementary, middle and high school buildings; acquiring or updating technology equipment to be used for school security purposes; and purchasing school buses. Voters in favor were 259 out of 399, with 140 opposed.

Proposition B, which includes $5 million for renovating concession stands, restroom facilities and track and field surfaces. Voters in favor were 231 out of 398, with 167 opposed.

Proposition C, which includes $12 million for building and equipping athletic training, practice and multipurpose facilities. Voters in favor were 207 out of 398, with 191 opposed.

Superintendent Betsy Burnett said Proposition A will fund the most pressing project, renovation and expansion of the elementary school. The district needs the elementary school project immediately, and it will need to renovate and expand the high school soon.

“This shows the commitment that parents and voters have to children of the district and we will put those monies to the best use possible over the next 10 years,” Burnett said. “I would like to thank mart for putting students first.”

The first $8 million would be available next spring and the rest available in the coming years.

The revenues to cover the bond issue will come primarily from property taxes on solar and wind farms built with in the district’s boundaries recently, Burnett has said.

Other city and school board races around McLennan County turned out as follows:

For Robinson City Council Place 3, incumbent Council Member Jim Mastergeorge lost to challenger Charlie Burch. Mastergeorge received 428 votes of the 1,133 total cast, or 37.8%, and Burch received 705 votes or 62.2%.

Jimmy Rogers and Brittany McLean ran unopposed for Robinson City Council.

For Place 6 on the Robinson ISD Board of Trustees, Jabo Rubin won with 571 votes out of 1,258 total votes or 45.4%; Colby Witt received 371 votes or 29.5%, and Jon Richards received 316 votes or 25.1%.

Alicia Williams and Keith Helpert each won their races unopposed.

In the West mayoral race, current Mayor Pro Tem David Pratka defeated current Council Member Joe Pustejovsky. Pratka received 272 votes out of 521, or 52.2%, and Pustejovsky received 249 votes or 47.8%.

For two at-large places on the West City Council, incumbent Cody Harris and Chris Nors won receiving the most votes among seven candidates. Harris, an incumbent, received 218 votes out of 935 votes cast, Nors received 196 votes, Crystal Middelton-Anthony received 152 votes, Mike Jones received 84 votes, Matthew Nemec received 105 votes, Laura Pavlicek received 96 votes, and Amanda Zahirniak received 84 votes.

In the race for Place 2 on the West ISD Board of Trustees, challenger Laurie Tresl won with 756 out of 1,309 votes, or 57.8%, to defeat incumbent Leigh Crawshaw, who received 553 votes, or 42.3%.

Incumbent Larry Sparks ran unopposed for the Place 1 seat.

In Riesel with three at-large seats on the city council at stake, Bobby Dieterich, Ralph May and Paul Winkler won, defeating incumbent Council Member Kooper Sjolander and incumbent Council Member Jeanne Lehrmann. May received 145 out 594 votes cast. Dieterich received 143 votes and Winkler received 136. Lehrmann received 98 votes, and Sjolander received 72.

Moody ISD voters approved a proposition for a $12 million bond issue for construction, renovation and acquisition of school facilities and equipment. In McLennan County 233 out of 396 or 58.8% voted in favor, while 163 or 41.2% voted against.

Waylan Neil Goodwin and Mac Fairey each won an at-large seat on the board of trustees.

With two at-large city council places at stake, Richard Prater and Joyce McGlothlin won, while Rick Edmiston did not receive enough votes. Prater received 124 votes out of 272 votes cast, Edmiston received 64 votes, and McGolthin received 84 votes.

Linda Owens won the mayor’s seat, running unopposed.

Both of Bruceville-Eddy’s propositions passed, with voters approving sales tax measures to fund economic development and street upkeep.

Proposition 1 passed with 92 votes out of 169 in favor. The measure calls for a one-quarter cent sales and use tax to fund economic development projects authorized by law for such a city.

Proposition 2 passed with 103 votes out of 171 in favor. The measure calls for a one-quarter cent sales and use tax for maintenance and repair of streets.

McLennan County voters, along with the state as a whole, approved 13 of 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot, rejecting the measure that would have raised the mandatory retirement age for judges.

McLennan County saw 24,773 of its 152,887 eligible voters turn out for the election, or 16.2%.

Cities and school districts will canvass, or finalize, election results in the coming days.