Northside ISD voters will decide November 3 whether to authorize $886.2 million in bonds and approve a separate maintenance and operations tax rate increase. Including estimated interest, the three bond propositions would carry a total repayment cost of approximately $1.84 billion.
In August, the NISD school board voted to place four propositions on the November 3 ballot: a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) and three bonds.
Proposition A is asking voters to approve a three-cent tax rate increase per $100 of taxable property value. If approved, it would result in a 4.49 percent increase in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district.
NISD lists maintenance and operations as daily operations, teacher and staff salaries, utilities, classroom supplies, and transportation.
The tax rate increase would generate approximately $45.5 million from taxpayers annually, with $21.5 million coming from local property taxes and $24 million from state funding.
According to the district, funds from the tax rate increase would go to retroactive pay following the Contingent Compensation Plan. Remaining funds would be directed to the $31.6 million budget deficit.
Bond propositions B, C, and D total $1,836,490,685 with interest in taxpayer-backed debt. The district currently has more than $4.1 billion in outstanding debt.
“THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE,” is stated on each of the propositions in accordance with state law.
Ballot language lists the cost of the three bonds at $886,245,000 in principal, but does not include the additional $950,245,685 in interest taxpayers are also responsible for.
If passed, the propositions would raise the taxpayer-backed debt to nearly $6 billion.
Proposition B requests $764,745,000, which would actually cost taxpayers $1,633,894,447 with interest.
It would allocate $329 million to renovation, reconstruction, and upgrades.
A $125 million fine arts replacement at Taft High School is the largest item on the list. Rudder Middle School would receive $44 million for a fine arts replacement as well.
Clark High School is slated for $37 million in culinary and CTE upgrades.
It also allocates $45 million each for Oak Hills and Scobee Elementary Schools for cafeteria, kitchen, and gym replacements.
Prop B’s $218.7 million for infrastructure includes $43 million for some schools’ chiller replacements and $13 million for district-wide high school band practice pads.
Other infrastructure allotments include tennis court upgrades, unit replacements, boiler replacements, dumpster pad relocation, paving and drainage upgrades, and lighting upgrades.
Prop B also plans for $64.5 million for roofing and waterproofing, $80.46 million for safety and security, $4 million for technology infrastructure, and $10 million for bond management.
Of the $4 million in technology infrastructure, $920,000 would pay for a data center project.
The transportation allocation totals $58 million, including $43.7 million for 230 new buses, $8.8 million for bus upgrades, and $5.5 million for transportation station improvements.
Proposition C requests $56,000,000 ($66,446,682 with interest) for “acquiring and updating instructional technology.”
Proposition D would spend $65,500,000 ($136,149,556 with interest) for a pool replacement. George Block Aquatics Center would be completely torn down and rebuilt.
The four ballot propositions follow a decline in NISD enrollment.
In February 2026, San Antonio Report noted, “NISD’s enrollment sits at 97,600, having lost several students to nearby charter schools, homeschooling, and population changes. The decline is a major driver of the district’s deficit because Texas funds public schools based on enrollment and attendance.”
“NISD has several under-enrolled campuses,” continued the San Antonio Report. “The number of campuses serving less than 350 students increased from two to 10 since 2018. Campuses with less than 500 students went from 12 to 43. Overall, the district operates 133 schools.”
Commenters on NISD’s Facebook expressed concerns about how the $1.8 billion in bonds and VATRE tax increase proceeds will be used.
“Why are yall spending over $600k on 2 superintendents? This district has a long history of mishandling funds. … Your response is bond proposals and now a tax increase,” wrote one commenter.
According to News 4 San Antonio, the superintendent emeritus is paid $364,140 and the interim superintendent is paid $274,055.
“Some renovations are on pause from the 2022 bond? How are they going to ask money for renovations, if they can’t finish the ones they promised to do?” another commenter questioned.
The district says nine projects from the 2022 bond are on hold while officials assess enrollment and other factors. It says the bonds for those projects have not been sold and the funding has not been used for other purposes.The district says nine projects from the 2022 bond are on hold while officials assess enrollment and other factors. It says the bonds for those projects have not been sold and the funding has not been used for other purposes.
All four propositions will be on the November 3 ballot, with early voting starting October 19.
