By Lorenzo Salinas

l.v.salinas@panews.com

 

In the wake of Harvey, many things are left uncertain—such as the property tax values of homes damaged by the storm and what this might mean for affected school districts.

It becomes an especially relevant question considering the Port Arthur Independent School District’s tax election passed a higher Maintenance & Operations (M&O) tax for a 13-cent raise. The tax hike was expected to bring $4.6 million extra in local tax revenue and more state aid to boot.

The question now is, with thousands of homes damaged, will property values fall to the point of impacting that projected revenue?

“We’re not exactly sure. As the (Jefferson County) commissioners said, we’re going to have to wait until those funds come in,” Mark Porterie, superintendent for PAISD, said. “We wouldn’t know at this point how that would affect us.”

Assistant superintendent for business and finance, Phyllis Geans, said it was up to the Jefferson County Appraisal District (JCAP) to determine the values of homes. This will start in January.

Meaning it could be some time before the full impact of Harvey is felt at the school district.

“We won’t know the overall impact (of Harvey) until January or February when taxes are due,” she said. “The public collections won’t be known until the end of the year.”

“Currently, that’s a topic that has come up in conversation,” Porterie said. “Any time we talk about public funds and the lessening of public funds… that is always a concern for the school district.”

But for now the district’s priority is fixing the buildings damaged by the flooding.

“At this particular time, we’re more concerned about getting our schools up and running. Once we get to the point of taxation… we will deal with that as it comes,” Porterie said.

As of the recent TRE, Porterie said the district would not have held it if it had come after Harvey. He said it would have been the wrong time, and that the district is cognizant of its residents.