Houston ISD’s $4.4 billion bond, the largest school bond in state history, was soundly rejected by voters on Election Day, with both propositions failing 60 percent to 40 percent after Early Voting.
According to district documents, the bond would cost $8.8 billion when paid off with interest in thirty years and was split into two propositions. Proposition A totaled $3.96 billion and was aimed at school renovations, while Proposition B was for $440 million and was for technology upgrades.
Both propositions were down by about 70,000 votes, with just early voting and ballot-by-mail results reported, but Houstonians for Great Public Schools, a pro-bond group, released a statement conceding the loss:
The outcome of today’s vote on the HISD bond is a setback for the thousands of Houston students who needed this opportunity for critical facility upgrades and enhanced safety measures. With the last bond election held 12 years ago, many children have been waiting for essential improvements that would provide a safe and supportive learning environment.
The group’s executive director, Veronica Garcia, called it a “setback.”
The bond failed to garner support from the outset. Parent and teacher groups critical of the administration of appointed superintendent Mike Miles started a campaign against him well ahead of the bond proposal.
It was so unpopular that few elected officials were willing to approve it, leaving only Harris County Judge Linda Hidalgo endorsing it. It named organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and the Houston Region Business Coalition as supporters.
Both the Harris County Republican Party and the Harris County Democratic Party passed resolutions over the summer to oppose the bond.
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