Todd Williams, the Superintendent at Kaufman ISD, Talks About his District’s Upcoming TRE Election
Friday, September 3rd, 2010Equity Center Radio |September 3, 2010 | Todd Williams, Kaufman Independent School District’s Superintendent, Discusses the District’s Upcoming Tax Ratification Election (TRE) with Wayne Pierce, the Equity Center’s Executive Director.
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Kaufman Independent School District (KISD), a school district 32 miles east of downtown Dallas, will be holding a Tax Ratification Election (TRE) on Saturday, September 25, 2010, asking its constituency to approve a tax increase for maintenance and operations (M&O) of .13 cents. State law requires a TRE anytime a school district raises its tax rate above $1.04. Last year, KISD lost a TRE by 9 votes and now feels it is crucial for the success of its academics to pass the proposed tax increase. KISD’s superintendent, Todd Williams describes to the Wayne Pierce, the Executive Director of the Equity Center and today program host, about the overwhelming need for passage of the TRE.
Todd Williams
Todd explains how supporters of the increase are promoting the passage of the TRE and what it means to his district. The TRE, he notes, will generate funds for the daily operations of the district and provide for increased funding for technology for students, additional staff, salaries, and benefits to address the continued growth in student population. Actually, according to Todd, the money will help this Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) “Recognized” school district maintain its status, with two TEA “Exemplary” campuses and three “Recognized” ones.
The district has published an informational brochure about the upcoming TRE and it can be found at TRE Informational Flyer. In addition, the Comptroller of Public Accounts has issued guidance about TRE’s in its publication, A Guide for Setting School District Tax Rates.
Today’s guest has been a career educator for 24 years, as a teacher, coach, Assistant Principal, Principal & Superintendent. He served as Superintendent at Martin’s Mill for five years prior to joining Kaufman ISD as its Superintendent four years ago. He is currently working on obtaining his Ed.D. degree from Tarleton State University and excepts to graduate in May, 2011.
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Tags: Equity Center Radio, Kaufman Independent School District, KISD, news, Opinion, Podcast, property tax, public schools, school district budget, school finance, Tax Ratification Election, taxation, Todd Williams, TRE, Wayne Pierce
