El Paso Matters – Socorro, Ysleta school districts hold tax rate elections to boost revenue

The Socorro and Ysleta school districts are asking voters for permission to increase their tax rates for the 2026 tax year beyond the state’s limit to generate new revenue, which district leaders say are needed to prevent layoffs and maintain programs in the face of financial uncertainty.

Both districts called for voter approval tax ratification elections — or VATREs — that if approved during the Nov. 3 election would generate up to $49.2 million a year in revenue for SISD and $5.5 million for YISD.

Under the proposals, the vast majority of YISD homeowners and a quarter of SISD homeowners will have little to no impact on the district’s portion of their tax bill because their homestead exemptions exceed the taxable value of their property, so they pay no school tax. Homeowners in Texas can qualify for a $140,000 exemption, and people over 65 can get an additional $60,000. YISD provides an additional 20% homestead exemption.

Each measure will appear as “Proposition A” on ballots for voters in those districts. The proposition language states “this is a tax increase,” which is legally required language for any tax referendum that increases the district’s overall maintenance and operations tax revenue compared to the previous year.

Because the propositions would take effect for the 2026 tax year, tax bills for homeowners in those districts will not be sent out until after the election, district officials said. Tax bills are typically mailed out starting in October and are due by Jan. 31 to avoid penalties.

ELECTION 2026 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know about the Nov. 3 general elections in El Paso

Socorro ISD

SISD Superintendent James Vasquez said the funds would be used to give employees raises, reduce class sizes, and maintain heating and cooling systems, among other initiatives, while maintaining the financial stability of the district.

The district last year laid off dozens of teachers and eliminated its elementary school fine arts program to balance its budget after years of spending more money than it took in.

If the tax ratification proposal fails, Vasquez said the district may need to continue to slash expenses as enrollment declines.

“I don’t have good options. We’re looking at reductions in programs, reductions in staff, and possible school closures in the near future. Those would really be my only options in being able to sustain our financial position,” Vasquez said.

Socorro ISD voters last year rejected a similar VATRE proposition by about 6 percentage points, or 850 votes. 

The district in May contracted with edVANTAGE Strategy Group for $260,000 for communication materials to educate voters on the VATRE proposal. Under state election laws, school districts can share factual information about the election, but can not encourage people to vote in favor of or against the tax ratification.

Members of SISD’s Finance and Operations Advisory Committee, which was formed in 2025 to help the district develop a long-term financial strategy, formed a political action committee in support of Proposition A.

The Support Socorro ISD Schools PAC, which was established as a 527 nonprofit political organization in 2025, has collected over $31,500 in contributions and spent over $13,800 since then.

Its largest donations include $5,000 in November 2025 from First Financial Corporation, which manages the district’s employee benefits, and $3,500 in June from Parkhill, Smith and Cooper, the architecture firm that designed the SISD Student Activities Complex II. The PAC reported about $5,600 from SISD trustee Manual “Manny” Rodriguez through several in-kind contributions in his role as government affairs coordinator with the El Paso Chamber, according to campaign finance reports.

The PAC’s next quarterly report, due Oct. 15, had not been filed as of Tuesday morning.

PAC chair Joe Espinoza said the organization is focusing on encouraging seniors who won’t be affected by the proposition, and families who can benefit from it to approve the VATRE. Texas law freezes school property taxes for homeowners 65 and older.

“I think a lot of people just weren’t aware of what the VATRE actually was. We had some data come in, and it looks like a lot of people that wouldn’t have been affected were the ones voting against it,” Espinoza said about the previous tax ratification election.

Ysleta ISD

YISD Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said the tax rate proposal is part of a larger plan to stabilize the district’s finances, prevent layoffs and begin rebuilding its savings after adopting a more than $391 million budget with a $12 million deficit for the current school year that would nearly deplete its reserves. The plan includes offering separation incentives to employees looking to retire in December.

“The $5.5 million is not going to save the district from the delicate financial situation we currently are navigating. It is not a silver bullet, but rather it is part of silver buckshot. It is one of several strategies that are happening concurrently at YISD that over time will help us pull out of it without having to reduce the (workforce),” De La Torre said.

The elections were triggered after both school boards adopted tax rates in August above their voter-approval rates — the highest they could have adopted without going to voters under state law.

The SISD board adopted a tax rate of $1.05 per $100 valuation for the 2026 tax year. The district’s voter-approved rate is 93 cents per $100 valuation.

The YISD board adopted a tax rate of $1.19 per $100 property valuation. YISD’s voter-approval rate is $1.15 per $100 valuation.

Under the proposition, YISD plans to shift 3 cents from its interest and sinking rate, used to pay its debt, to its maintenance and operations rate, which is used to pay for salaries and to run the district. The move is known as a penny swap.

Tornillo ISD on ballot

Aside from the two major school districts, Tornillo ISD in far East El Paso County also has a tax ratification proposition on the November ballot for voters in that district.

Tornillo ISD’s Proposition A asks voters for permission to raise its tax rate above the voter approval rate of $1.05 per $100 valuation to $1.20 per $100. 

The proposal would generate over $1.5 million a year and be used to replace school buses to meet the state’s new seat belt requirements, replace Tornillo High School’s roof and cooling system, and to add shade and grass to its campuses, according to the district’s budget presentation.

Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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