The Grayson County Board of Education in a special called meeting on September 2 raised school taxes for the residents of Grayson County.

As a result of last Wednesday’s board action, the real estate tax would go to 41.2 cents and personal property tax would go to 41.2. cents, motor vehicle taxes will be 46.3 cents and the utility tax be 3.0 cents. All of these rates, except utility, are calculated based on $100 property valuation.

The tax rate barely passed with a 3-2 vote to increase the taxes. Chairman Carolyn Thomason placed the motion before the Board with Valerie Hayes-Hicks, and Anna Majors voted along with Thomason in favor of the increase and Mona Fulkerson and Terry Mudd abstained.

The tax increase will add about $150, 000 to the school board’s budget.

“That money will plug some of the holes left from the states one percent budget cut and the states mandated one percent salary increase,” said Grayson County School Superintendent Barry Anderson. “It will be used to hire teachers and pay for instructional costs. This rate increase is not something new.

“The school system has pretty much taken the four percent increase every year for the 20 years and that is one reason our tax rates are so low. Out of 174 districts last year, our tax rate was 143.

“That means there are 143 counties that are paying higher taxes than our citizens are paying and our teacher are doing a great job with the resources provided,” said Anderson.