Voters approve Mansfield ISD Penny Swap

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By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Voters on Tuesday approved the Mansfield ISD Penny Swap, a move that will transfer funds from the Interest and Sinking tax to Maintenance & Operations tax. The vote will allow the school district to add $24.7 million in revenue each year without raising taxes.

Due to refinancing of bonds and lower interest rates, the district asked voters to allow the move from to give more funds for instruction, teacher salaries, safety and student programs.

The MISD tax rate will remain at $1.4183 per $100 of certified property value. The I&S tax rate is currently 36 cents and the M&O tax rate is $1.0583. The move will switch 13 cents from the I&S to the M&O.

"By allowing the district to restructure its tax rate, we can continue making Mansfield ISD a destination district committed to excellence that offers the best programs for students, retains the best educators, and upholds safety and security standards—with no change to the current total tax rate," Superintendent Kimberley Cantu said in a statement.

"The passing of the Penny Swap will bring in an additional $24.7 million annually to the district," the statement read. "As we work to provide the best education possible for students, we will remain good stewards of the tax dollars we receive and continue to uphold our high standards of financial excellence, integrity and transparency."

MISD voters in Tarrant County approved the move 56.38 percent, or 4,206, for the swap, and 43.62 percent, or 3,254, against. Johnson County voters approved the move 56.75 percent, or 147, for the swap, and 43.24 percent, or 112, against.

The vote is unofficial until the ballots are certified. Once certified, the swap will take effect immediately.

Tarrant County voters approved a proposition to issue $400,000 in bonds to renovate, maintain and construct roads and bridges. The unofficial vote was 65.73 percent, or 64,330, for the proposition, and 34.27 percent, or 33,534, against.

Voters narrowly defeated a proposition to issue $116,000 in bonds to build a Criminal District Attorney office building. The unofficial count was 54.97 percent, or 53,080, against the proposition, and 45.03 percent, or 43,490, for.

Both are unofficial until the ballots are certified.

At the state level, it appears that voters approved all eight propositions on the ballot, which included:

- Banning the state from limiting religious services

- Expanding property tax exemptions for spouses of military members killed in the line of duty

- Limiting school property taxes on the surviving spouse of a person with disabilities

- Allowing nursing home residents to designate a caregiver who cannot be denied visitation

- Allowing the state commission oversight of judicial candidates

- Requiring candidates for Texas Supreme Court to have 10 years of practicing law

- Authorizing counties to issue bonds for transportation and infrastructure in underdeveloped areas

- Allowing charitable raffles by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association

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