Residents in the Spring area will head to the polls in three weeks to decide whether to raise property taxes to provide additional funding for Spring Independent School District.
If voters approve Proposition A, homeowners with a property valued at $250,000 would pay an extra $22 per year — roughly $2 to $5 more per month, according to Superintendent Dr. Kregg Cuellar. The measure, if passed, is projected to bring in millions of dollars for school programs and staff.
Cuellar says the additional revenue would go toward keeping the lights on — and much more.
“Basically, that investment would go towards our operational costs that would be invested significantly in our personnel, our students, and our programs,” Cuellar said.
A district already facing a financial shortfall
Spring ISD says it is already operating in the red, losing roughly $9.3 million in funding last year after approximately 1,500 students left the district. Because state funding is tied to enrollment — at an estimated $6,200 per student — those departures created a significant budget gap.
“There is a great impact with enrollment loss for sure,” Cuellar said.
The superintendent emphasized that the district’s goal is transparency, regardless of how voters feel about the measure.
“It’s up to every voter that they have the right to make a decision, you know, for or against,” Cuellar said. “It’s just our job to make sure that we’re providing you with the most transparent and factual information of impact.”
For Spring ISD parent Laura Chavez, the vote is about more than just her own household.
“Not just for my children. I think for any child in the district, having the right tools, the right environment. I think it’s the keys to success,” Chavez said.
Chavez acknowledges not everyone will be enthusiastic about a potential tax increase.
“Totally, I understand that, you know, there is some hesitation,” Chavez said.
Still, she sees the measure as a long-term investment in the community.
“Whatever quality education they get now, I know they can use it in the long run,” Chavez said.
Residents will have the final say on Election Day, answering whether public schools need more financial support.
