A small number of voters in Lufkin Independent School District approved a new debt package on the May 2 ballot to fund several projects across the district, including the construction of a new high school sports stadium.
Around 3,000 citizens voted in the election, while 27,869 registered voters live in Lufkin ISD according to the Angelina County Elections Office.
The package totals more than $278 million with interest and was divided into two bond propositions on the ballot.
Proposition A: $98,250,000 ($194,829,789 with interest) for the design, renovation, expansion, and improvement of school buildings, safety and security, and the purchase of new buses.
The proposition passed 2,217-965.
Proposition B: $42,000,000 ($83,286,016 with interest) for the design, construction, acquisition, and equipment of stadium facilities.
The proposition passed 1,808-1,360.
Bonds must be repaid with interest by local property taxpayers. That’s why Texas law requires each ballot proposition to state: “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.”
According to posted documents, the district already has $116,388,187 in outstanding debt.
Financial records reveal that an East Texas architecture firm, with a location in Lufkin, was the largest donor to the PAC supporting the bonds’ approval.
GLS Architecture-Engineering-Surveying specializes in several types of architectural projects, highlighting that it has “partnered with over 125 school districts” and is “capable of delivering beautiful projects for any budget.”
Its website highlights different colleges, schools, gymnasiums, and stadiums it has constructed.
Local responses on social media varied, with some criticizing the measure and saying the focus should be on education, and that the explanations provided are unclear and concerning.
“Why don’t we get back to education, instead of 42 million dollars on a stadium,” one local resident posted. “Are you nuts?!?! This isn’t Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, it’s high school football…….get real! You just spent 77 million a couple of years ago including a new fancy baseball statism [sic] even [though] you had access to a perfectly good facility.”
Another local said, “I received the Lufkin ISD bond election flyer today, and the explanation provided is unclear and deeply concerning. A proposal of $140,000,000 at this scale reflects either significant planning failures or unrealistic expectations.”
In 2018, Lufkin ISD passed a $75 million bond for the overhaul of the middle school, the high school, and athletic fields.
The district estimates that the bond will increase property taxes by $87 annually on an average house valued at $190,000.
