La Joya ISD taxpayers will pay more in school property taxes under a new tax rate the district recently adopted.

For homeowners like Juan Biera, who has lived in his home for nearly 20 years, the increase is one more cost to work into an already tight budget.

Biera said he is the sole provider for his household. 

“I'm the only one who works, so I stay busy working. I have to pay the bills, water, electricity, and everything," Biera said.

He said once the basics are covered, little is left over. 

"You have to pay for water, electricity, and whatever else comes up, especially food. If you stop working for a week, you fall behind," Biera said.

The new tax rate is just over $1 for every $100 of taxable property value. That is an increase of 0.03% from last year.

La Joya ISD said the March 2025 floods triggered a state disaster declaration, giving the district a one-year window to raise its tax rate without voter approval.

The district offered this example: a home worth $200,000 with a $140,000 homestead exemption leaves $60,000 to be taxed. Under the new rate, that homeowner would pay about $19 more a year. What a homeowner pays will depend on their home's value and exemptions.

La Joya ISD Chief of Business, Finance, and Administrative Services Mirgitt Crespo said the disaster drove up costs. 

"We have increased in our liability insurance because of the disaster in the region," Crespo said. "For example extra cleaning crews in order to clean for the water damages or the water coming in the schools."

The district said the storms are not the only pressure on its budget. La Joya ISD said it has lost nearly 10,000 students over the last decade, which means less money coming in.

At the same time, the district said the cost of insurance, gas, and running its schools has gone up.

The district said it made cuts before turning to taxpayers to fill the gaps. 

"Before we decided to do the taxes, we did a reduction of finances. We closed our schools, we reduced staffing, and we adjusted our budget to balance it with a $12 million reduction in revenue," Crespo said.

The extra money will go into maintenance and operations, the part of the budget used for day-to-day costs of running schools. That includes employee pay, utilities, and other school expenses.

Biera said his feelings about paying more are not simple. His concern is keeping up when so much of his paycheck is already committed.

"It's tough, but if it's for something good, then we have to pay," Biera said. “We just can't afford that much.”

This school year, the district also changed how some students get to school, ending door-to-door bus service for some. The district said the change cuts fuel costs and makes the transportation system more efficient.

The district also permanently closed four schools and temporarily closed a fifth while it is being converted into a career and technical education school.

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