Rockwall, TX – Rockwall resident Eric Bott has issued an open letter to Rockwall ISD Superintendent Dr. Villarreal, CFO David Carter, Trustee Grant DuBois, Trustee Stan Britton, and the full Board of Trustees. Dated in the wake of explosive reporting from The Texan (October 27, 2025), Bott’s letter exposes what he describes as a pattern of misleading public statements, selective data, and potential coordination with a pro-VATRE political action committee ahead of the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE).
Citing direct confirmation from Texas Education Agency (TEA) officials—who used Rockwall ISD’s own estimates—Bott reveals that passage of the VATRE would trigger recapture (or “netting”) of approximately $3.5–$4 million in local revenue, effectively sending taxpayer dollars out of the district despite repeated assurances to the contrary. The letter demands immediate retractions, full disclosure of PAC communications, and a commitment to neutral, factual messaging.
As PipkinsReports.com shares this letter in full, it underscores a critical community debate: With teacher raises achievable through existing budgets and new state funds, was the VATRE truly necessary—or has it risked long-term financial harm through recapture? Read Bott’s complete open letter below, complete with verified sources, and join the conversation on local education governance.
Subject: Open Letter: Rockwall ISD Recapture, Transparency, and Leadership
Dear Dr. Villarreal, Mr. Carter, Mr. DuBois, Mr. Britton, and Members of the Rockwall ISD Board,
This correspondence will be shared with local media and community stakeholders in the interest of full transparency and public accountability.
As a resident and taxpayer of Rockwall ISD, I am deeply concerned by the continuing pattern of incomplete and misleading information presented to the public regarding the financial impact of the Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE).
The most recent reporting from The Texan confirms what many citizens have questioning for months: under the proposed VATRE, Rockwall ISD will enter recapture.
According to The Texan (October 27, 2025):
“Officials from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) walked through the VATRE scenario using Rockwall ISD estimates with The Texan, indicating that the district will be subject to recapture should the VATRE pass.”
TEA calculations, based on the district’s own submissions, show roughly $3.5 to $4 million in excess local revenue that must be offset through a Chapter 49 netting agreement. The state will reduce the district’s aid by that amount. Whether called “netting” or “recapture,” the effect on taxpayers is the same: those dollars leave Rockwall.
Leadership and Communication Failures
1. False public statements about recapture
During multiple board meetings and in several public forums, David Carter, the district’s Chief Financial Officer, has repeatedly stated that Rockwall ISD would not enter recapture under the VATRE. While he carefully worded those statements to avoid saying “no way,” his phrasing consistently led the public to believe recapture was not possible.
In one particular meeting, while Mr. Carter was at the podium presenting to the board, Grant DuBois turned the discussion into what appeared to be a coordinated pitch for the VATRE. In that exchange, Mr. DuBois stated, “If we don’t pass this, I don’t see any other way – there’s no other way,” and then asked Mr. Carter to confirm whether he saw another option. Mr. Carter did not respond, allowing the implication to stand that passing the VATRE was the only possible way to fund district operations and pay raises.
Both the statements and the silence in that setting reinforced a misleading narrative that directly conflicts with TEA data and the agency’s confirmation to The Texan. These public misrepresentations must be corrected immediately.
2. Misuse of terminology and selective information
The district has relied on outdated TEA summaries that exclude the additional copper-penny revenue created by the VATRE. Once that revenue is included, the district’s local share exceeds its entitlement and triggers recapture. Continuing to cite incomplete figures misleads voters.
3. Coordination with a political action committee
The “Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD” PAC appears to have an open door to district information, receiving details and district-generated materials quickly and using very specific talking points in its campaign messaging. This creates the appearance of coordination between the district and a political organization during an election, undermining public trust and potentially violating election-communication rules.
4. Conduct unbecoming of a trustee
Stan Britton has repeatedly made public posts on his personal Facebook page and within teacher forums that repeat inaccurate district claims about recapture and the financial impact of the VATRE. While every citizen has the right to personal opinions, statements from a sitting trustee carry the weight of official authority. When those statements are inaccurate, they mislead voters and damage public confidence. I respectfully request that Mr. Britton publicly retract his statements or that the Board consider appropriate action.
5. Failure of transparency
Despite repeated citizen requests for clarity, the district has avoided direct answers about recapture, choosing instead to host selective meetings and private briefings promoting passage of the VATRE. That is not open governance; it is controlled messaging. Independent research by a citizen advocate with the Restore Conservative Roots Coalition reached the same conclusion: Rockwall ISD will enter recapture under the VATRE.
Furthermore, The Texan reached out to David Carter for comment in both of its recent articles, and he declined to respond. District spokesperson Renae Murphy also declined to comment when asked about recapture. When pressed to explain the roughly $4 million gap between the $20.4 million in new M&O revenue stated on the ballot and the $16.4 million reflected in the district’s own budget documents, Ms. Murphy was unable to give a clear answer. Her explanation did not reconcile the difference and only added to public confusion about where those missing funds would go. That lack of clarity once again underscores the district’s unwillingness to communicate transparently with taxpayers.
Required Corrective Actions
- Retract and correct all public statements claiming that Rockwall ISD “is not subject to recapture.”
- Acknowledge that the VATRE’s copper-penny tax rate triggers recapture under TEA’s calculations.
- Disclose all communications between district officials and the “Vote Yes for Rockwall ISD” PAC.
- Commit that all future district messaging during elections will be neutral and factual.
Verified Sources
- The Texan, “Rockwall ISD ‘Netting’ Agreement Would Offset Recapture Payments by Reducing State Aid,” Oct 27, 2025
https://thetexan.news/issues/education/rockwall-isd-netting-agreement-would-offset-recapture-payments-by-reducing-state-aid/article_c7bd96d9-07c9-48b8-9d8c-98eeb0d50b66.html - TEA Summary of Finances and Chapter 49 documentation obtained through Public Information Requests (available upon request)
This situation represents a serious failure of leadership and communication. Rockwall ISD’s credibility depends on honesty, not wordplay. The community deserves full transparency and an immediate correction of the public record.
It is also important to note that teacher raises could have been achieved within the district’s existing budget and recent state funding allocations. The VATRE was not necessary and has instead risked placing Rockwall ISD into recapture.
Sincerely,
Eric Bott
Rockwall Resident
** Eric Bott has lived in Rockwall since 2005 and runs his own consulting business specializing in technology operations. He is also a longtime grassroots activist dedicated to local accountability and representing Rockwall’s taxpayers and families.