Bullard Independent School Board Trustees discussed but took no action regarding a proposal for a tax distribution for the district.

If approved, trustees would have to call for an election. The tax distribution would not change the tax rate for Bullard citizens, but it would call for redistributing taxes from the interest and sinking (I&S) fund to the maintenance and operation (M&O) fund.

The tax rate for Bullard is $1.47 per $100 valuation. Of the $1.47 tax rate, $1.04 is used for M&O and .43 cents is used for I&S. If the measure is approved, first by the board and eventually by voters, .13 cents would be moved from the I&S fund to the M&O fund. While the tax rate would remain the same, $1.17 would be used for M&O and .30 cents would be used for I&S.

BISD Superintendent Keith Bryant said the proposal, if approved, would make a difference in state funding provided to BISD. If a redistribution were approved, it could provide as much as $500,000 annually in additional funding for the district.

“We’re leaving money on the table in Austin that the state would pay us,” he said.

Bryant said other school districts in the state have approved a tax redistribution and several others are considering it.

“Keep in mind, this would culminate in an election,” Bryant said to trustees. “But the tax rate would not change.”

Bryant said the additional funding could be used toward bond indebtedness, for capital projects or more.

“We could be saving the taxpayers money,” said BISD Board President Dr. John Alexander.

To ensure the board is completely informed about a proposed redistribution of the tax rate, Bryant has hired a consultant who will provide trustees with facts about a redistribution, the election process and more. If the board approved the measure, Bryant said he recommended a called election no later than September.

In other business, trustees approved the 2010-2011 school calendar. The board approved changing the spring break from the first to the second week of March 2011.

Also, trustees approved a request from the Bullard Youth Football Organization to use district facilities during the youth football season in the fall; and approved increasing the district’s band wavelength for computer use for an additional cost of about $700 each month.

Bryant also said the district will install scoreboards at the softball and baseball fields next week, and that the contract to replace the football stadium scoreboard that was damaged in a storm was approved.