Trustee Ron Farr maintains that the LISD’s execss fund balance was intended for times when the school district needs additional money. Such a time is now, he says.

Instead of a Tax Ratification Election, he favors the following.

1. Keep the M&O rate at $1.04 per $100 valuation, thereby giving taxpayers an 11.3 percent tax break overall.

2. Use the district’s $5 million cushion over a three-year period, which equates roughly to the $1.7 million a successful TRE would generate.

3. If additional funds are needed to balance the budget, accelerate staffing cuts, which would reduce LISD expenses more than $925,000 a year.