Voters in Lancaster Independent School District are being asked to decide whether to approve a bond package to fund multiple projects across the district including upgrades to all campuses, technological updates, and renovations to the district’s indoor athletic facilities and stadiums.
Documents posted by the district reveal that the proposed $376 million bond package will cost taxpayers $736.6 million after interest.
The bond will be divided into four propositions on the ballot:
Proposition A – $322,005,000 ($650,285,073.00 with interest) for designing, constructing, renovating, and acquiring and equipping school and support facilities, along with safety and security upgrades and the purchase of sites for school facilities.
Proposition B – $3,500,000 ($4,118,250.00 with interest) for updating instructional technology equipment.
Proposition C – $35,250,000 ($57,609,500 with interest) for constructing, renovating, and acquiring and equipping the indoor athletic facility at Lancaster High School.
Proposition D – $15,250,000 ($24,651,500 with interest) for renovating and upgrading district stadiums.
The district currently has $191,138,941 in outstanding debt.
On the bond’s website, the district argues that the bond package will not raise the current school tax rate as “the district has responsibly handled past debt by refinancing and paying off some bond debt early.”
However, authorizing new bond debt extends or increases the tax burden over time, even if the tax rate does not go up in the short term.
Financial reports reveal Lancaster Rising, the political action committee supporting the bond package, is solely funded by Dallas-based organization Commit Partnership – which donated $25,000 to the PAC.
Commit Partnership is a group of institutions that are working to help unite “school systems, higher education institutions, policymakers, businesses, community members and foundations” to make changes “at every level of a student’s journey, from their first steps to their first jobs.”
“Backed by robust data, student-first policies and systems, and relentless optimism, we believe Dallas County can become a place of economic opportunity for everyone,” the website reads. “And from there, this impact can be scaled to reach every student in Texas.”
Voters have the opportunity to either approve or reject the proposed debt package on the May 2, 2026 ballot. Early voting is ongoing and will run through April 28.
