Proposition A, or a Voter-approved Tax Ratification Election (TRE) is a special election that allows voters to decide whether to approve a tax rate higher than the rate set by the Texas Education Agency. This election impacts only the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) portion of the overall school tax rate and will not fund new construction projects.

This is not a Bond Election. The Bond approved by voters in 2023 provided funds that can only be spent on construction of new facilities, renovation of existing facilities, land acquisition, and other capital improvement projects. Bond funds cannot be used for salaries or general operating expenses.

Denton ISD convened a 1925 Advisory Committee in September 2024. The committee studied Denton ISD’s financial outlook, staffing formulas, and program funding priorities for the 2025–26 budget.

More than 60 community members met on five separate occasions over a nine-month period. Committee members included parents, students, staff, and community members.

On June 10, 2025, after reviewing the data, the committee recommended that the Board of Trustees call for a Tax Rate Election. The Board voted to place the proposition before voters in the November 4, 2025, election.

After HB2, Denton ISD is in a $15 million deficit budget. 

Factors contributing to the deficit:

• Lack of increased public school funding since 2019
• Loss of School Health and Related Services (SHARS)
• Underfunded transportation
• Underfunded safety and security: House Bill 3, 88(R)
• Underfunded special education
• Denton County Appraisal District cost increase
• Utilities cost increase
• Property casualty insurance cost increase
• Employee compensation increase

Due to state funding not keeping pace with inflation, Denton ISD has had to reduce, absorb, and eliminate important resources for students. This impacts student learning, teacher and support staff, safety and security resources, and student programs and enrichment.

School districts in Texas have two budgets. Maintenance and Operations (M&O) funds pay for People and Programs. Interest and Sinking (I&S) funds pay for Bonds and Buildings.

The Denton ISD Voter Approval Tax Rate Election is $0.05.

Unfortunately, no, it does not. Increases in Denton ISD home values do cause a homeowner’s school taxes to rise, but the increases do not provide an ongoing benefit to the district’s operating budget. It actually has the opposite effect. As DISD collects more money from local taxpayers due to increased property values, state operating funding for DISD decreases.

In fact, state officials have often used the benefit of additional local tax dollars generated in school districts like DISD to fund other parts of the state budget unrelated to public education.

If Prop A is approved, the estimated impact for a home valued at $298,000, the average taxable value in Denton ISD for 2025, would be a decrease of $16.03 per month compared to the 2024 certified taxable value.

This includes the voter-approved additional $40,000 homestead exemption, which combined with the existing $100,000 exemption, lowers school property taxes for qualifying homeowners. This would take effect in January 2026.

Current homeowners ages 65 and over will not be impacted by the passage of Prop A. Their school taxes will not go above the frozen dollar amount that was established when the Over-65 Exemption was granted (unless improvements or additions are made to the residence).

To have your school taxes frozen, you must file a homestead application with the appropriate appraisal district and be granted the Over-65 Exemption.

In 2025, the Texas Legislature passed significant property tax relief measures aimed at homeowners aged 65 and older. This means eligible individuals can now receive a total school tax exemption of up to $200,000 - combining the $140,000 general exemption and the $60,000 over 65/disabled exemption - if it is approved by voters in November.

The existing school district tax ceiling for seniors remains, ensuring that school district taxes on your home won't increase after you qualify, unless you make major home improvements.

A school district M&O budget (commonly called the operating budget) is comprised mostly of personnel. In Denton ISD, 78% of the M&O budget is employee salaries.

Any registered voter who resides within the Denton ISD school district boundaries. 

You can check on the Denton County Voter Lookup page: www.votedenton.gov.

The deadline for voter registration is October 6. If you are not registered to vote by this deadline, then you are not eligible to vote in this election. The Texas Voter Registration Application can be found online at www.votedenton.gov, or applications can be picked up at any post office, library, Department of Public Safety or Denton ISD school. 

You should receive a Voter Registration Certificate within 30 days. On Election Day, please bring your certificate to your local polling place if you have it. However, all that is required is a valid driver’s license. For more information about the required ID, visit: Voter ID Requirement.

Polling locations are listed on the Voting Information page.

During Early Voting (October 20-25), you may vote at any polling location in Denton County.

On Election Day (Tuesday, November 4), you must vote at the site designated for your precinct. Look up your precinct information here: Denton County Voter Lookup.