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Heads up, taxpayers and parents: We’ve audited the upcoming SOMERSET ISD agenda. There are 5 items targeting parental consent and taxpayer funds that need your immediate attention before the gavel falls.
| 🚨 Alert (LEVEL 9) |
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School Board to Set 2026 Property Tax Rate
The school board will vote on the property tax rate for the upcoming year under Item VII.F. They have the option to adopt the No-New-Revenue rate, which would prevent tax bills from rising due to appraisal increases, or a higher rate that will increase the tax burden on homeowners.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: Show up for Item VII.F and sign up to speak. Email the Board of Trustees: ‘With rising appraisals, families are struggling. I urge you to protect taxpayers and adopt the No-New-Revenue tax rate for 2026.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| ⚠️ Warning (LEVEL 7) |
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District Approves Contract with Anti-Taxpayer Lobby Group
The board is set to approve a contract with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Risk Management Fund. TASB is a registered lobbyist that uses public funds from school districts to lobby the state legislature against policies like property tax relief and parental rights.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘I demand Consent Item VI.H be pulled for a separate discussion and a roll-call vote. Why is Somerset ISD sending our tax dollars to a lobby group that works against taxpayers in Austin?’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
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| 🚩Watchlist (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague TASB Policy Updates Require Scrutiny
The board is voting on two policy updates provided by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) under items VI.J and VI.K. These template policies can introduce changes that affect parental rights or district transparency, but the specific changes are not detailed in the agenda.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Contact the district office before the meeting and ask for a copy of the proposed policy revisions for items VI.J and VI.K. Taxpayers deserve to see the fine print before it’s approved on the consent agenda.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Policy Changes
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Vague ‘District of Innovation’ Plan Amendment
The district is amending its “District of Innovation” plan, which allows it to seek exemptions from certain state education laws. The agenda does not specify what laws the district wants to bypass, hiding the potential impact on classroom standards or teacher qualifications.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Email the Board of Trustees regarding Item VI.E. ‘Please publish the proposed amendments to the District of Innovation plan online before the vote. What specific state laws is the district seeking an exemption from and why?’
💰 Impact: Potential Weakening of Standards
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| ALERT (LEVEL 3) |
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Trustee Election Canceled Due to No Challengers
The district is canceling the November trustee election because no one ran against the incumbents for SMD #1 and #2. While this saves election costs, it also means voters have no choice and incumbents are automatically re-elected, which can reduce accountability.
Response
ASK WHY: Contact the district regarding Item VI.B and ask what steps are being taken to encourage more candidates to run for school board in the future to ensure competitive elections and voter choice.
💰 Impact: Reduced Voter Choice
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