El Paso Voters Reject Three School District Tax Proposals

Voters in El Paso County, Texas, rejected tax-increase proposals from three independent school districts during the November 3 elections. The Socorro Independent School District saw its proposal fail with 57% opposition; the measure would have generated approximately $49.2 million annually for teacher compensation, campus safety, and the replacement of buses and HVAC systems.

In a similar outcome, 56% of voters opposed a measure by the Ysleta Independent School District to reorganize tax revenue to generate $5.5 million for operations. The district sought these funds to address a budget deficit estimated between $7 million and $9.5 million. Additionally, the Tornillo Independent School District's proposal to collect roughly $237,000 for daily operations was rejected by 70% of voters.

Following the results, Socorro ISD Superintendent James Vasquez stated that the district must now consider larger budget reductions. Ysleta ISD Superintendent Xavier De La Torre noted that while the rejected measure was one of several plans to eliminate the deficit, the district will pursue other strategies to stabilize its finances.