Crosby Independent School District voters will decide on two bond propositions in the November 3 election, with funds designated for new schools and districtwide facility improvements.
The Harris County district’s Board of Trustees approved the bond election on August 17, placing two propositions totaling $208.28 million before voters. However, with interest, the bonds would actually cost taxpayers $411 million.
Proposition A would authorize $98.28 million ($194.11 million with interest) for the construction of a new elementary school and improvements to existing campuses, including roof replacements, HVAC upgrades, security systems, and technology infrastructure.
The proposed new elementary school would initially accommodate approximately 750 prekindergarten through fifth grade students, with space designed for future expansion to 950 students.
According to the district, most elementary campuses are projected to exceed capacity by 2029.
Proposition B would authorize $110 million ($217.3 million with interest) to construct a new middle school to replace Crosby Middle School, which was built in 1974.
The proposed campus would initially serve approximately 1,100 seventh and eighth grade students, with facilities designed to accommodate up to 1,500 students in grades six through eight.
The district cited aging infrastructure and ongoing engineering investigations into the existing middle school’s foundation, roof, and mechanical systems as reasons for the proposed replacement.
According to the district’s official bond election order, Crosby ISD already carries $164.1 million in outstanding debt principal, with another $84.9 million in remaining interest obligations.
Combined, the district’s existing principal and interest obligations total approximately $249 million.
If voters approve both propositions, Crosby ISD would be authorized to issue an additional $208.28 million in bond principal, with interest costs determined by the terms of the bonds issued.
The district estimates the bond package would increase its debt service tax rate by approximately two cents, from $0.48 to $0.50 per $100 of taxable property value.
For a home with a taxable value of $115,728, the district projects an annual increase of approximately $23.15, or $1.93 per month.
A political action committee called All In For Crosby has promoted the bond propositions on Facebook, but it has not yet filed a campaign finance report with the Texas Ethics Commission.
Early voting began October 19 and continues through October 30. Election Day is November 3.
