Voters in the Comal Independent School District will decide whether to approve a bond package that will cost more than double the amount shown on the ballot.
The Comal ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted in August to put a $567 million bond package before voters. However, when interest is factored into the debt repayment, the package costs $1.2 billion.
According to the election order, the district already has $2.1 billion in outstanding debt.
Two propositions appear on the ballot as part of the bond proposal:
Proposition A addresses facilities, land, and buses, asking voters to approve a $539,955,000 bond. According to the voter information document, Proposition A includes $616,320,863 in estimated interest, bringing the total cost to about $1,156,275,863 over an estimated 27 years.
According to the district, Prop A would fund:
- Safety and security improvements, including surveillance cameras, secure entry vestibules, upgraded door hardware and card-reader access controls
- Replacement of aging buses, including some with more than 200,000 miles and no seat belts, with buses equipped with seat belts
- Replacement and modernization of aging heating and cooling, roofing, electrical and plumbing systems
- Energy-efficiency improvements intended to reduce operating costs
- Two new elementary schools along the I-35 corridor near New Braunfels
- Land for future school sites
- Additional instructional space at Canyon High School
- A multipurpose addition at Davenport High School
- Career and Technical Education spaces and other campus improvements district wide
The district cites projections indicating elementary schools along the I-35 corridor could face a shortage of approximately 1,300 seats by 2032. It also estimates construction costs are increasing by at least 5 percent annually, which it says could increase project costs by approximately $27 million for each year projects are delayed.
Proposition B addresses classroom technology and is asking voters to approve a $27 million bond. According to the voter information document, Proposition B includes $18.7 million in estimated interest, bringing that total to about $45.7 million over 20 years.
According to the district, Prop B would fund:
- Replacement of student laptops and classroom devices on a planned schedule
- Upgrades to the district’s network infrastructure
- Improvements to network speed, connectivity, reliability and security
The district says it will finance technology purchases with short-term bonds structured to reflect the expected useful life of the equipment.
In a video posted online, Krista Moffat, assistant superintendent of Comal ISD, cited rising enrollment as the reason for the bonds. “Today, we serve more than 30,000 students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade and we’re adding 900 to 1,000 new students every year,” she said. “By 2035, enrollment is expected to top 40,000.”
“Our community continues to grow, and that growth affects schools throughout the district,” Superintendent Dr. John Chapman said in the news release. “This proposal reflects the work of community members who carefully reviewed our needs and helped identify priorities related to safety, existing facilities, student capacity and technology. Our responsibility now is to make sure voters have clear, factual information about each proposition before the election.”
Both propositions can be financed within Comal ISD’s existing tax rate, according to the district’s news release.
Pursuant to Texas state law, every Texas school bond proposition must state: “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE” because property taxes are used to repay bond debt.
Comal ISD covers parts of five counties: Comal, Bexar, Guadalupe, Hays, and Kendall.
Notably, Comal ISD limits who can comment on its Facebook posts, giving no opportunity for the public to comment on the Comal ISD 2026 Bond promotional posts.
Early voting runs October 19-30.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
