A.I.S.D. Budget Final, Historic Exemptions Included

A.I.S.D.'s $700 million budget is official, and was approved by the board last night. Big picture? No schools will close, and this year's earlier $100 million budget shortfall was closed (KUT reports the shortfall was closer to $35 million, but who's counting?). Though thousands of district teachers are still left holding a pink slip, there's a new tussle in the budget ring: historic tax exemptions. The exemptions give significant tax breaks to owners of historic buildings, and though the program was suspended earlier this year, it was reinstated for another year last night. The program's opponents claim the system is being abused, and that the school district has no business subsidizing so-called 'wealthy homeowners'.

KUT spoke to Pemberton Heights resident Jane Hayman, who argued against the vote, “Over the past couple of years, more than 40 homeowners in my neighborhood have been granted preferential tax treatment by the city council. The average value of these homes exceeds $1 million.” Supporters argue that the tax breaks preserve our historic landmarks and increase the city's tax base. People like Vince Torres don't buy it. He emphasized the dollar amount going towards the tax breaks and indicated that the city should hold the bag on such programs, not the school district, since it relies on property taxes in order to function. “You folks need to understand that it’s not the benefit you think it is to the district,” Torres argued. “We’re going to end up subsidizing your properties to the tune of $382,000, and other tax payers are going to pay for that, and we need to figure out a way to balance that.”

Though the program was reinstated last night for another year, it's under the condition that something else take its place. For more on this story, head to KUT.org.