Spring Hill ISD voters to decide property tax increase, $20M in bond measures
Published 10:55 pm Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Voters in Spring Hill ISD will decide whether to increase their property taxes and consider three bond propositions totaling $20 million to increase funding for district operations and improve facilities.
Trustees voted Monday to conduct a voter-approved tax ratification election, also known as a VATRE, as well as a bond election Nov. 4.
The voter-approved tax ratification measure asks voters to consider a roughly 3-cent tax rate increase to fund school maintenance and operations. If approved, the measure will generate $304,590 in new funding. It’ll also help pay for teacher and staff raises, instructional materials, student support services and extracurricular activities, district officials said in a statement.
If the measure is approved, the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate – the largest part of a property owner’s tax bill – would rise by 3.21 cents per $100 of property valuation. A home valued at $200,000 would pay $64.20 more per year in property taxes under that rate than the current rate.
The district’s current maintenance and operations tax rate is 75.48 cents per $100 of property valuation, and the proposed rate is 78.69 cents per $100 of property valuation.
Martin Cobb, Spring Hill’s chief financial officer, said the district is facing rising operational and construction costs because of inflation. Meanwhile, state lawmakers haven’t significantly increased per-student funding for schools in recent years. Lawmakers appropriated a record $8.5 billion for education during the 2025 legislative session, much of which went to increase teacher pay.
“This gap strains the district’s ability to maintain competitive salaries, recruit and retain high-quality staff and provide the programs our students need to succeed,” Cobb said in a statement. “The VATRE will generate additional operational revenue with a modest increase to the maintenance and operations tax rate which will help offset inflationary pressures on day-to-day expenses.”
District leaders are asking voters to approve three bond propositions.
Proposition A, totaling $17,222,744, would fund renovations to the junior high school and HVAC equipment replacements across the district.
Proposition B would fund upgrades to Panther Stadium, totaling $1,975,000.
Proposition C, totaling $802,256, would pay for improvements to the tennis complex, including restrooms.
District officials said the bond measures are “designed to address these important needs without increasing the district’s current Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate.”
“The VATRE and bond measures are designed to ensure that Spring Hill ISD can continue providing high-quality learning environments for all students while also maintaining responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources,” Superintendent Penny Fleet said in a statement. “Together, the VATRE and bond protect the district’s long-term financial stability and allow the district to make needed investments in our schools, classrooms, and facilities — always keeping students’ success and well-being as our top priority.”
The board of trustees approved a balanced budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, but it will only be balanced if voters approve the measures on the ballot. The district’s budget for the 2025-26 year totals $25,894,816, up from $24,931,619 in 2024-25.
The district approved a deficit budget in 2024-25 and used $420,000 in savings to balance it.
Early voting is Oct. 20-31. Election Day is Nov. 4.
