Are You Registered to Vote?

• A Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) is an election required by the State Legislature to ask voters to approve a modified tax rate to increase revenue for teachers and staff which directly impacts classroom instruction.

• Through a voter approved tax rate election (VATRE), Cedar Hill ISD is expected to generate an additional $6.8 million each year.

• If the VATRE is approved, CHISD will give teachers, librarians and nurses a $2,500 stipend in January 2024.

• If the VATRE is approved, CHISD will give all other staff including bus drivers, custodians and paraprofessionals a $1,000 stipend in January.

• The mid-year stipends will cost a little more than $2.2 million.

• This school year, CHISD teachers received a $1,800 raise. If the VATRE is approved -- teachers will receive a $2,500 stipend in January for a total increase of $4,300 for the 23-24 school year.

• If the VATRE is approved, CHISD teachers will receive a salary increase of at least 5% in 2024-25 school year.

• Right now, CHISD does not have police officers assigned to elementary schools.

• House Bill 3 is a new state law that requires districts to provide an armed security officer at each school.

• CHISD is expected to receive $225,000 from the state to implement House Bill 3.

• It will cost the district $848,200 to hire nine police officers and equipment, leaving more than $623,000 unfunded.

• If approved by voters, newly hired police officers will make $33.65 an hour on a 226 day contract. ($60,846 base salary).

• With voter approval, CHISD would have the funds to comply with HB3 mandates and increase compensation to fill all required positions.

1.Visit the Dallas County Election Office between 8:00AM-4:30PM and fill out an application.

• Dallas County Operations Facility
  
• 1520 Round Table Drive, Dallas, TX 75247
  
• Map
  

2. Download, Print Application, and Mail Application

• English Application
  
• Spanish Application
  
• Vietnamese Application
  

3.Request an application via phone

• Call Dallas County at 469-627-8683
  

4.Request an application via email

• dallascountyvotes@dallascounty.org
  

5. You can also pick-up an application at your local tax offices, library, and other government offices.

You may register to vote if you fulfill all of the following requirements:

• Are a United States citizen;
• Are a resident of Dallas County;
• Are at least 17 years, 10 months of age (To vote, you must be 18).
• Have not been declared totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction;
• Not finally convicted of a felony, or, if so convicted must have (1) fully discharged the sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, or supervision, or completed a period of probation ordered by any court; or (2) been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disability to vote.

Cedar Hill’s total tax rate has dropped 38 cents in the last seven years; and Cedar Hill ISD currently has the lowest revenue-per-student in the area, ranking 16 out of 16 in Dallas County. After two previous attempts in 2018 and 2022, Cedar Hill ISD has failed to pass a VATRE.

CHISD has proposed a tax rate of $1.1326 per $100 of taxable property value. If the VATRE passes, a $300,000 median priced home, with $100,000 homestead exemption, would pay $2,265 a year in the CHISD portion of the tax bill. That is $830 less than what property owners paid in 2022 thanks to tax compression and the proposed SB2 increased homestead exemption from the state. Therefore if the VATRE is approved by voters, this average homeowner will save at least $69 per month on the CHISD portion of their property tax bill and be able to fund additional CHISD campus police officers and provide competitive salaries for teachers.

Cedar Hill ISD property taxes for citizens age 65 or older would not be affected by the school district’s elections as long as a homestead and over 65 exemption application have been filed with the Dallas Central Appraisal District.