Shaping the Future of Liberty Hill's Education

Liberty Hill has experienced exponential growth in recent years and that growth has brought financial challenges: unfunded state mandates, cuts in federal and state funding, and a squeeze on the school district’s budget from inflation pressures. To address these issues, the Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees called for a school funding election this November with two key propositions that seek to address the district’s ongoing funding challenges and preserve our high quality of education. “This board cares deeply for this community and for education,” Board President Megan Parsons shared during a board meeting in August. “In Liberty Hill ISD, we have continued to serve and provide for our growing student population despite the challenges of unfunded state mandates, lack of funding — even though we have seen significant inflation — and cuts in other funding, such as our fast-growth allotment.”

PROPOSITION A

Proposition A would allow the district to increase teacher and staff compensation while maintaining vital academic and extracurricular programs. Megan emphasized the importance of this measure: “I believe Proposition A will allow Liberty Hill voters to decide whether to reward our teachers and maintain excellence in our schools, or whether we will be forced to make deeper budget cuts that will impact the quality of education we offer.”

If passed, Proposition A will add six cents back to the property tax rate, which the district has reduced by 37 cents over the past six years. The proposed increase would allow the district to provide a 2 percent raise on the midpoint to teachers and staff and help the district continue to support extracurricular activities and academic programs. If the proposition does not pass, the district, which has already trimmed $2 million from the budget, faces up to an additional $10 million in cuts that could lead to the elimination of up to 10 percent of staff.

Liberty Hill ISD Superintendent Steven Snell says, “Right now, we cannot afford raises because the state legislature has not invested the state surplus in public schools, federal funding is decreasing, and we have been facing high inflation and increasing operational costs. Prop A would generate additional funding we could use to pay teachers and staff more and to protect the programs that have helped Liberty Hill ISD build champions in academics, character, and community.”

PROPOSITION B

Proposition B addresses a different issue — attendance credits and recapture payments to the state. As Liberty Hill’s property values have grown, the district has become subject to the state’s recapture system, which requires property-wealthy districts to send a portion of their tax revenue back to the state. To make these payments, Liberty Hill ISD must purchase attendance credits from the state, which Proposition B would authorize. If Proposition B does not pass, the state will take a portion of tax value away from LHISD permanently. Residents will still pay Liberty Hill ISD taxes, but the money would be given to another school district. “Because of growth in our property values, the state is going to take money away from Liberty Hill one way or another,” Superintendent Snell says. “Proposition B would allow the district to make its required payment to the state. Without Prop B, the state can permanently remove property — such as large businesses — from our tax base. We want to keep Liberty Hill property values in Liberty Hill.”

Early Voting: October 21 - November 1

Election Day November 5

CAST YOUR VOTE

Early voting for the Liberty Hill ISD school funding election is October 21 through November 1 and Election Day is November 5. Voters may cast their ballots at any polling location in Williamson County. The LHISD Annex Building on Forrest Street will be a polling location for early voting as well as Election Day, and Liberty Hill High School and Legacy Ranch High School will serve as polling locations on Election Day only.

For more information about the school election, visit www.LHvotes.com.