August 17, 2026 | LA PORTE, Texas — La Porte ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. If approved by voters, the measure would add 12 cents to the district's Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax rate, moving the district's total tax rate from $1.0641 to $1.0673 per $100 of property valuation. 

The increase to the tax rate would be minimal because La Porte ISD has been able to utilize disaster pennies to increase state funding for the last several years. This state funding election would allow voters to decide if LPISD can keep those pennies permanently, instead of leaving it up to chance. 

“Our board takes seriously its responsibility to be transparent with our community about the district's financial position,” said Jeff Martin, Board of Trustees President. “Calling this election gives La Porte ISD voters the opportunity to decide this important question for themselves in November.” 

A VATRE is not a bond election and does not create debt for the district. It provides operating revenue through the M&O tax rate, which funds day-to-day district operations such as staff compensation, utilities, transportation, and instructional materials. It does not affect the Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate, which is used solely to repay voter-approved bonds and, by law, cannot be used to pay staff or teachers. 

By law, the measure will appear on the ballot as "Proposition A," and state law requires the ballot to include the statement, "THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE." 

Homeowners age 65 and older who have applied for and been granted the Over-65 or Disabled Person Homestead Exemption will not see an increase in their school taxes as a result of this election. That exemption freezes the school tax portion of a property tax bill at the amount owed in the year the exemption was granted. 

In addition, with La Porte ISD’s optional local homestead exemption and the state homestead exemption, homeowners with a taxable assessed value of $168,000 or less do not pay school taxes. 

La Porte ISD has received bond ratings of Aaa/AA+, the highest ratings assigned to Texas school districts by Moody's and Standard & Poor's, and has earned the state's "Superior Achievement" rating under the School FIRST financial accountability program for 23 consecutive years. 

“We encourage our community to review the information available about this election, ask questions, and make a plan to vote,” said Dr. Walter Jackson, Superintendent. “We are committed to providing clear, factual information throughout this process so voters can make an informed decision.” 

Important Election Dates: 

• Deadline to Register to Vote: October 5, 2026 

• Deadline to Apply for Ballot by Mail: October 23, 2026 

• Early Voting: October 19-30, 2026 

• Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 

More information about the La Porte ISD VATRE is available at lpisd.org/vatre.