2026 VATRE & BOND

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The District will provide factual responses to submitted questions. Questions that require additional research may be added to the frequently asked questions section when a response is available.

NOVEMBER 3, 2026 EMS ISD ELECTION INFORMATION

At its special meeting on Monday, August 10, 2026, the EMS ISD Board adopted orders calling a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, and a school bus bond election for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The VATRE and school bus bond are two separate propositions. Voters will consider and vote on each proposition separately.

This page provides initial factual information about the election. Additional financial information, tax-impact examples, frequently asked questions, presentation dates, and voting information will be added as details are finalized.

VATRE/Bond Flyer

VATRE/BOND Presentation

VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTION (VATRE)

The VATRE would authorize EMS ISD to access four additional Maintenance and Operations, or M&O, tax-rate pennies. This represents $0.04 per $100 of taxable property value.

The District projects that the four additional pennies would generate approximately $6 million in additional annual M&O revenue.

The tax rate will not rise for property owners 65 and older, even if the VATRE is passed.

If the VATRE is not approved, EMS ISD would not receive the revenue associated with the four additional M&O pennies.

SCHOOL BUS BOND ELECTION

The school bus bond proposition would authorize EMS ISD to move the cost of purchasing school buses from M&O to the District’s Interest and Sinking, or I&S, fund. I&S funds are used to repay voter-approved debt, while M&O funds support the District’s day-to-day operating expenses.

Refinancing bus purchases through I&S would shift future debt payments of approximately $3 million per year from M&O. This would preserve approximately $3 million in annual M&O budget capacity.

This represents a change in the source used to pay for the purchases of buses. It does not represent $3 million in new revenue.

If the bond is not approved, EMS ISD would not be able to refinance the buses as capital costs and would have to pay for them from the limited operating budgets that pay for staffing and student programs. Planned bus purchases would continue to require M&O funding.

Employee Compensation

EMS ISD has already approved a 1% salary increase for the 2026-2027 school year.

Under the District’s current compensation plan, an additional 1% salary increase would be implemented, retroactive to the start of the school year, if voters approve both the VATRE and the school bus bond. This would result in a total 2% salary increase for EMS ISD employees.

If only one proposition is approved, or if neither proposition is approved, the additional 1% salary increase would not be implemented under the current compensation plan. The 1% salary increase already approved would remain in place.

Two Separate Propositions

Approval or rejection of one proposition does not determine the result of the other proposition.

If only the VATRE is approved, the District would receive the projected VATRE revenue but would not have authorization to issue the proposed bus bonds.

If only the school bus bond is approved, the District would have authorization to issue bonds to refinance and move the costs of bus purchases but would not receive the additional VATRE revenue.

Under the District’s current compensation plan, voter approval of both propositions is required for implementation of the additional 1% salary increase.

Estimate Your VATRE Impact

Enter your home’s appraised value to estimate the annual and monthly tax impact of the proposed VATRE, calculated using the $140,000 school district homestead exemption.

VATRE Tax Impact Calculator

Enter your home's appraised value to estimate the property tax impact of the proposed four-cent VATRE.

Estimated VATRE tax increase

$0.00

per year

Approximately $0.00 per month

Appraised value entered:
Estimated taxable value used:
VATRE rate increase: $0.04 per $100 of taxable value

Please note: This calculator provides an estimate of the tax impact of the four additional VATRE pennies only. Actual taxes are based on the property's taxable value and exemptions or tax ceilings that apply to the property. Changes in property value and taxes imposed by other taxing entities are not included.

Voting Information

Resources:
votetexas.gov
www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/elections

Last Day to Register to Vote: Monday, October 5, 2026

Early Voting: Monday, October 19, 2026 - Friday, October 30, 2026

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Information about early voting and Election Day locations will be posted when it is finalized by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court.

Invite Us to Present

If you'd like a District representative to present fact-based information to your business, organization, church, community group or HOA, please email info@ems-isd.net. The District would appreciate the opportunity to share fact-based information with as many people in the EMS ISD community as possible.

This page is provided for informational purposes and does not advocate for or against either proposition.