Hays CISD superintendent responds to Prop A rejection

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Voters on Tuesday rejected the Hays Consolidated Independent School District’s Proposition A, a tax rate increase that would have gone towards teacher pay and inflation.

Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright issued a statement Wednesday following the defeat.

“From the outset, we knew that seeking a tax rate increase, given the cost-of-living challenges we are all facing, was a big ask,” Wright said in the statement. “So many household expenses have risen in recent years, and families are working harder than ever to navigate financial obstacles.”

Wright added that several other area city and school district requests for tax rate increases were rejected Tuesday. The city of Austin was one of them. Austin voters rejected Proposition Q, which would have increased property tax rates for additional funding to city services.

He reassured Hays CISD teachers and staff that the outcome is “not a referendum on whether the greater community supports you or the district.” 

“In fact, in base numbers, more people than ever in history of Hays CISD showed up to the polls this election in favor of a school district ballot item - by a lot. It just wasn’t enough to pass the measure,” Wright said.

Voters rejected the tax rate hike, what happens now?  

Wright said difficult decisions will have to be made that will impact the services the district offers. However, he "promise[d] to do whatever is in my power to make these budget cuts are far away from our core mission as possible."

In the coming months, the district will be strategically evaluating places to make budget cuts for the next school year. Wright added that he intends to make an announcement regarding cuts next spring during their budget planning process for 2026-2027. 

“In the meantime, we will continue to offer exceptional customer service to our parents and students and the finest educational experience in Texas,” Wright said.