Property owners in Brownwood ISD may soon get a decrease in the school’s property tax rate if all goes as planned, according to officials.

BISD school board trustees approved on Monday the public notice to go out for the proposed 2011 tax rates for the total amount of $1.3147 per $100 property valuation for school maintenance and operations and interest and sinking.  Although this amount is the same for last year, Deputy Superintendent Kevin Gabaree said that he was optimistic that the actual rate that will be implemented will be less than this proposed rate.

“By the time we approve our budget and tax rate August 29th, I am very confident that that total tax rate will be dropped about a penny to 1.3 cents,” Gabaree said.  “We’re waiting on some final numbers from the appraisal district to ensure that is correct.”

Gabaree said that the proposed tax rate will be on the public notice for the higher amount because the district can always decrease the rate if needed, but cannot raise the rate if the numbers do not come in as expected.

Gabaree said that in addition to presenting a balanced budget and decreased tax rate at next week’s budget workshop, he has some other positive news for school board members.

“We are going to present you a balanced budget; we are going to present to you a proposed tax rate that is going to be less than what we are currently paying. I think that is going to be a positive,” Gabaree said.   “There is going to be a slight salary increase for our employees, which not many districts have been able to do that this year so that is very positive.”

The school board will meet to approve the final budget and tax rate at a special meeting on August 29th.

Other items approved at Monday’s Brownwood ISD School Board Meeting:

-Trustees approved the 2011-2012 professional development appraisal calendar.

-Trustees approved the 2011-2012 student code of conduct.  Three small changes were added to this year’s code of conduct.

-Trustees approved the TASB-initiated Policy Update 90 which affects several local policies.

-Trustees heard a report about the districts federal AYP report and accountability ratings.