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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming PASADENA ISD agenda. There are 6 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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District Appoints Delegates to Taxpayer-Funded Lobby Group
The board is appointing voting delegates to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Delegate Assembly. TASB uses taxpayer money from member districts like Pasadena ISD to lobby the state legislature, often for policies that oppose property tax relief, parental rights, and educational freedom.
Response
Email the Board at board@pasadenaisd.org: ‘I object to Item XI.3. Pasadena ISD should not use our tax dollars to send delegates to TASB, an organization that lobbies against the interests of taxpayers and parents. Please vote NO and begin the process of withdrawing from TASB.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Lobbying Fees
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 8) |
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District to Spend $12.2M on New Health Plan, Locking in for 5 Years
The board is voting to switch from a self-funded medical plan to TRS ActiveCare at an estimated cost of $12.2 million for just the first eight months. This move, intended to address a deficit in the current health fund, will lock the district into the TRS plan for five years, reducing future flexibility.
Response
Contact the Pasadena ISD Board at board@pasadenaisd.org: ‘Regarding Item VII.2, what are the projected costs over the full five-year lock-in period, and what other options were considered to address the health fund deficit before committing taxpayers to a long-term plan?’
💰 Impact: $12.2M (8 months), 5-Year Lock-In
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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District Accepts $2M Federal Grant with Potential Strings Attached
The district is accepting a $2,000,000 continuation grant for the “21st Century Community Learning Centers.” These federal grants often create programs and staff positions that local taxpayers are forced to fund permanently after the federal money disappears, and can come with data-sharing mandates.
Response
Email the Board at board@pasadenaisd.org: ‘Regarding Item VIII.10, what is the district’s plan to fund these after-school programs when the $2 million federal grant ends? Taxpayers must not be left with an unfunded mandate.’
💰 Impact: Future Unfunded Mandates
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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District to Spend $75,000 in Federal Funds on College Advisor Contract
The board will vote on a $75,000 contract with “Advise TX” to place “near-peer College Advisers” in high schools. The program’s stated goal is to increase college entry for “low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students,” using vague terms that can mask ideological programming.
Response
Email the Board at board@pasadenaisd.org: ‘Regarding Item VIII.5, please provide the full contract and MOU with Advise TX and detail the specific metrics for success. Taxpayers deserve to know what outcomes are being purchased for $75,000.’
💰 Impact: $75,000 (Federal Funds)
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Vague Budget Amendments Obscure Spending
The agenda includes multiple budget amendments with vague justifications like “Reallocate to proper function.” One amendment shifts nearly half a million dollars ($487,848) from “Plant Maintenance & Operations” to “General Administration” without a clear explanation for taxpayers.
Response
Email the Board at board@pasadenaisd.org: ‘Regarding the budget amendments in Item IX.1, please provide a plain-English explanation for the transfer of $487,848 from campus maintenance to central administration before the vote.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Transparency
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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Pasadena ISD Adopts No-New-Revenue M&O Tax Rate
The board is set to adopt a Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate of $0.8254, which the district’s own documents confirm “does not exceed the no-new-revenue M&O tax rate.” This is a responsible fiscal decision that holds the line on the M&O portion of property tax bills.
How to Secure It
Show up to thank the Board for holding the line on property taxes by adopting the no-new-revenue M&O rate. Email the Board at board@pasadenaisd.org: ‘Thank you for protecting taxpayers by proposing an M&O tax rate at or below the no-new-revenue rate in Item IX.4. Please make this the new standard.’
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