MCR Appeals Due August 15

Recapture Watch

A Texas School Coalition Publication

Deadline Alert: MCR Appeals Due August 15

TEA has released preliminary Maximum Compressed Tax Rates (MCR) for TY 2026 (SY 2026-2027). Here's what to do:

Approved LPVS, no concerns? No action needed.

Want to appeal your rate? You must act by August 15, 2026. Submit electronically on district letterhead, signed by the superintendent, to Amy Copeland (Chief School Finance Officer/Associate Commissioner of School Finance) at taxprograms@tea.texas.gov. Only districts that submitted their LPVS by August 1 are eligible.

Missed the LPVS deadline? Your MCR defaults to the lesser of $0.6254 or your prior-year rate — with no appeal option.

Where to Check Your Rate

Preliminary MCRs are posted on TEA's State Funding webpage, under District & Charter Planning Tools.

Why This Matters

Your MCR sets the ceiling for your no-election tax rate — MCR plus the greater of (5 golden pennies, or prior-year Tier Two enrichment pennies) plus your current debt rate. Get this to your business office now to keep VATRE planning on track. Final appeal determinations will be issued by August 31.

READ THE TEA LETTER

Membership Dues Invoices Coming Soon — Note Our New Address

TSC is deeply grateful for your ongoing support. As the only organization advocating exclusively for districts that have paid — or currently pay — recapture, we couldn't do this work without you.

We're preparing for the 90th legislative session and are excited to work alongside you in that effort. As part of that preparation, TSC is now issuing 2026-27 membership dues invoices. Please keep an eye out for your district's invoice.

New Mailing Address

Texas School Coalition, 6505 W. Park Blvd., Suite 306 PMB #249, Plano, TX 75093

Welcome New Member: Buena Vista ISD

TSC is proud to welcome Buena Vista ISD as our newest member district.

Buena Vista ISD is a small, rural district located in Pecos County in West Texas, serving the community of Imperial. The district operates a single PK-12 campus, Buena Vista School, home of the Longhorns, with an enrollment of around 255 students. Like many small West Texas districts, Buena Vista fields a six-man football team and has a strong record in UIL athletics and academics.

We're glad to have Buena Vista ISD join TSC as we head into the 90th legislative session, and we look forward to advocating alongside them.

HB 1495 Compliance for FY2026

Annual reporting requirement to members

House Bill 1495 (Toth), passed in the 86th legislative session (2019), requires districts to include a line-item budget expenditure for "directly or indirectly influencing or attempting to influence the outcome of legislation or administrative action" (Section 305.002, Government Code). To help you comply, TSC is reporting its own budgeted and actual lobbying-related expenditures by member tier below.

District Enrollment

Dues

FY26 Projected

FY26 Actual

FY27 Projected (7.5% of Dues)

1-500

$500

$38

501-1,000

$1,000

$75

1,001-1,500

$2,000

$150

1,501-3,000

$3,000

$225

3,001-5,000

$4,000

$300

5,001-8,000

$6,500

$488

8,001-15,000

$8,500

$638

15,001+

$12,500

$938

Note: Actual expenditures for FY27 will be available in August 2027.

Please reach out to Missy Bender, Executive Director, at missy@txsc.org if you have any questions.

Mark Your Calendar: Two Legislative Hearings to Watch

House Pensions Committee — August 18, 2026, 10:00 AM

Meets in E2.012 to, among other items, "monitor the implementation of HB 3526, relating to the financial transparency for bonds issued by local governmental entities." Invited testimony only — but public comments can be submitted online.

VIEW AGENDA

Watch the hearing | Submit public comments

Senate Local Government Committee — September 1, 2026, 11:00 AM

Meets in E1.106 to examine the effect of increasing the homestead exemption and enhance transparency in appraisal district funding. Invited and public testimony will be heard.

VIEW AGENDA

Watch the hearing

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