There may not be very many high-profile races to vote on this coming November election, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t important decisions for taxpayers to decide at the ballot box.
In addition to the proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution (you can view our positions and recommendations here), voters in several districts will decide whether their local ISD’s will take on more debt for new projects.
While this is far from an exhaustive list, you can get a sense for the type of projects and the current fiscal health of some key districts across the state.
Whether your school district is on the list or not, go vote! Early voting started Monday, the 21st and will run through November 1st. The general election date is Tuesday, November 5th.
Abilene ISD:
- Cost – $87.68 million
- Purpose – Safety upgrades on all campuses, 3 new elementary schools, consolidation of 4 Early Childhood campuses to 2 renovated locations, ADA accessibility and restroom renovations, several auditorium renovations, district-wide instructional technology improvements, elimination of portables for instructional use at 1 school, campus traffic circulation and paving improvements, and major capital improvement projects
- Current debt – $54,433,722 (Principal); $18,842,327 (Interest); $73,276,049 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Based on the average value of homes of $92,669 taxes would increase $4.07 per month of $48.80 per year.
- Expenditure per student – $9,621
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 52%
Alvin ISD:
- Cost – $212.445 million
- Purpose – Construction of new schools, renovation and expansion of some current schools, safety projects, design and related costs for a new Career and Technical Education facility, technology improvements, additional and replacement buses, band instruments, New Godwin Ag Facility; additional athletic stadium, natatorium, and satellite transportation
- Current debt – $314,505,000 (Principal); $169,121,572 (Interest); $483,626,572 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Average annual increase of $134.65 for a home valued at $118,222 and for a home valued at $100,000 the increase would be $113.90 annually.
- Expenditure per student – $10,905
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 42.5%
Barbers Hill ISD:
- Cost – $60 million
- Purpose – To renovate existing campuses, renew older mechanical systems, to enhance security, and to upgrade classroom technology.
- Current debt – $177,338,771 (Principal); $100,662,801 (Interest); $278,001,572 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – No increase
- Expenditure per student – $14,239
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 39.5%
Chapel Hill ISD:
- Cost – $31.2 million
- Purpose – Providing for current and future enrollment, increasing student achievement, safety improvements, increase efficiency of use of existing property; additions and/or renovations to several existing schools, a stadium, baseball/softball complex, Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, a competition gym and activity center, and lastly a transportation, maintenance, and food services facility
- Current debt – $23,745,000 (Principal); $11,100,506 (Interest); $34,845,506 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Estimated to increase by 14.1 cents per $100 of assessed value
- Expenditure per student – $9,924
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 47.1%
Comal ISD:
- Cost – $451 million
- Purpose – Renovations to existing schools, technology infrastructure and equipment, safety preservation, transportation to replace and add buses, and land acquisition for future schools
- Current debt – $518,633,268 (Principal); $461,932,067 (Interest); $980,565,335 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – The I&S tax (interest and sinking) rate could increase by an additional 7 cents making it a total of 46 cents.
- Expenditure per student – $13,001
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 35.1%
Gilmer ISD:
- Cost – $36.21 million
- Purpose – Construction of a new high school to replace an existing one; funding for additional science, fine art and self-contained classrooms at a junior high; replace an outlying building; add a multipurpose facility to the new high school campus
- Current debt – $18,545,000 (Principal); $8,502,781 (Interest); $27,047,781 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Increase of $89 annually for a $50,000 home; increase of $216 annually for a $100,000 home; increase of $342 annually for a $150,000 home
- Expenditure per student – $9,338
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 50%
Gonzales ISD:
- Cost – $24.985 million
- Purpose – Construction of a new campus, band hall, new front drive, and a Student Center; classroom expansions and renovations, cafeteria renovations, restroom renovation, security front office improvements, expanded parking, new school buses, bus barn improvements, parking lot improvements, construction and renovation projects to comply with ADA, and land purchase for future facilities
- Current debt – $3,115,000 (Principal); $328,576 (Interest); $3,443,576 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Increase on I&S tax rate by $0.118 per $100 assessed value
- Expenditure per student – $10,991
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 43.1%
Jacksonville ISD:
- Cost – $22.785 million
- Purpose – Construction of a new Elementary campus and expansion at Nichols Intermediate.
- Current debt – $54,584,631 (Principal); $41,599,529 (Interest); $96,184,160 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Increase of 8.5 cents per $100 valuation
- Expenditure per student – $9,879
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 48.5%
Katy ISD:
- Cost – $99 million
- Purpose – To construct an Agricultural Sciences Center; a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) Project Center; and a second stadium
- Current debt – $1,167,099,927 (Principal); $786,569,747 (Interest); $1,953,669,675 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Not anticipated.
- Expenditure per student – $10,858
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 44.4%
Marble Falls ISD:
- Cost – $6.55 million
- Purpose – Improved technology, career and technical improvements, miscellaneous program needs, and maintenance
- Current debt – $71,274,339 (Principal); $56,757,279 (Interest); $128,031,618 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Overall rate will not increase
- Expenditure per student – $11,034
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 45.5%
Mineral Wells ISD:
- Cost – $25 million
- Purpose – Replace elementary school, security upgrades at all campuses, replace track at one school, and renovations at a school.
- Current debt – $34,835,000 (Principal); $18,966,183 (Interest); $53,801,183 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Increase of $1.42 per $100 valuation
- Expenditure per student – $9,725
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 50.5%
Seguin ISD:
- Cost – $83.3 million
- Purpose – Renovate, improve and construct a school on a current school site; fund technology enhancements at facilities for 21st century learning environments
- Current debt – $73,159,564 (Principal); $41,303,234 (Interest); $114,462,799 (Total Payment)
- Tax increase? – Annual increase of $67.10 for home’s taxable value of $50,000; $134.20 for home’s taxable value of $100,000; and $201.30 for home’s taxable value of $150,000
- Expenditure per student – $10,162
- Instruction expenditure percentage – 51.8%
