Five Bexar-Area School Districts Are Asking Voters for More Money This November — Here's What It Means for Your Property Taxes

If you own a home — or are thinking about buying one — in parts of Bexar County or the surrounding communities, there is something on the November 2025 ballot that deserves your attention before Election Day arrives next week.

Five school districts serving the greater San Antonio area have placed voter-approval tax rate elections, commonly called VATREs, on the November ballot. Those districts are Boerne ISD to the northwest, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD to the northeast, Judson ISD in the northeast corridor closer to the city, East Central ISD to the southeast, and La Vernia ISD to the southeast as well. Each district is asking local voters to approve a tax rate that exceeds the state-set maximum a district can levy without that voter sign-off.

The timing raises a fair question. Texas allocated $8.5 billion to public schools this year, with roughly half of that funding directed toward teacher salaries. That is a significant investment at the state level. So why are local districts still coming to voters with requests for more money?

The short answer is that state funding and local tax rates are separate levers, and they do not always move in the same direction. State dollars are distributed through a funding formula that takes into account enrollment, property values, and other factors. When property values in a district rise — as they have across much of the San Antonio region in recent years — the state formula can actually reduce what it sends locally, on the assumption that the district can generate more revenue on its own. A strong real estate market, in other words, does not automatically mean more money in the classroom. Districts that feel the pinch of that formula, or that want to fund programs and staff beyond what the state provides, often turn to VATREs to close the gap.

For homeowners, the practical effect is straightforward: if voters in your district approve the increase, your annual property tax bill goes up. The exact dollar impact depends on the size of the rate change your specific district is requesting and the appraised value of your home. Homeowners in Boerne, Schertz, Cibolo, Universal City, Live Oak, Converse, Kirby, China Grove, and La Vernia are among those who will see these measures on their ballots and feel the results in their tax statements if the measures pass.

For people buying a home right now, this is exactly the kind of local detail that matters when you are comparing neighborhoods. Two homes priced similarly on opposite sides of a school district boundary can carry meaningfully different tax burdens over time. If you are shopping in the northeast San Antonio suburbs — think ZIP codes around Converse or Schertz — or looking at properties out toward La Vernia, ask your agent to walk through the current and proposed tax rates for that district before you make an offer. Your mortgage lender will estimate taxes based on current rates, but an approved VATRE could adjust your monthly escrow payment once the new rate takes effect.

Sellers in these districts should be aware that informed buyers will factor local tax rates into their offers, especially as affordability stays top of mind across the San Antonio market. A home in a district with a higher tax rate is not unsellable by any means — strong schools can actually support property values — but transparency is always the right approach. Disclose what you know, and let buyers do their homework.

Renters are not off the hook either. Landlords who own property in these districts will see their operating costs change if a VATRE passes. Whether and how quickly that filters into lease renewals depends on the individual landlord and the local rental market, but it is worth understanding as you plan ahead.

For existing homeowners who are not planning to move, the decision comes down to your values and your budget. Voting yes means accepting a higher tax bill in exchange for what the district says it will do with the funds. Voting no keeps your rate where it is. Either way, you deserve to understand what you are deciding.

The November election is right around the corner. If you are already registered in Bexar County or one of the surrounding counties that these districts touch, check your sample ballot to confirm which measures apply to your address. The Bexar County Elections Department is a reliable starting point for that information.

At 5 Star Real Estate of San Antonio, we keep a close eye on the local factors — school funding, tax rates, infrastructure, and community growth — that shape home values across every corner of this city and its surrounding communities. Whether you are buying, selling, or simply trying to understand what is happening in your neighborhood, we are here to help you make sense of it.