Large Local Bond Proposals Pass in Texas

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DALLAS – With $4.8 billion of bond proposals on local ballots across Texas, voters approved the largest issues clustered in North Texas while bonds for a community college district near Houston and two school districts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley got thumbs down.

School districts made up the majority of bond proposals, accounting for more than $4.5 billion, according to Joe Smith, executive director of TexasISD.com and a former school superintendent.

"The real story here is that in Texas we are barely able to keep up providing facilities to contain the student growth in our school districts," Smith said. "Our school districts are attempting to meet the needs, without much commitment from state leaders."

Seven school districts in the rapidly-growing Dallas-Fort Worth area made a clean sweep, winning approval of more than $2 billion of bonds.

Plano Independent School District north of Dallas led the parade, with strong support for $481 million of bonds for a district that continues to enjoy an economic boom. Making the decision easier was the fact that the additional debt will not require a tax increase. The district's tax levy of $1.44 per $100 of assessed value is one of the lowest in affluent Collin County.

The bond election was Plano ISD's first in eight years. Voters approved a $490 million bond proposal in 2008.

Neighboring Richardson ISD, a slightly older district bordering Dallas, also won approval of $437 million of debt for refurbishment of schools and other projects. About $216 million of the bond proposal has been set for maintenance of existing infrastructure and to replace roofs, air conditioners and computers.

The Richardson proposal drew opposition from some concerned about the size of the issue, application of the proceeds and the need for a tax increase.

The city of Allen north of Dallas, one of five Texas cities to hold bond elections, won approval to issue $93.15 million in bonds for a library expansion, new recreation center, new fire station, various street improvements and funding for public art.

Northeast of Plano in Collin County, McKinney ISD won voter approval for $220 million of bonds, including $50 million for a combined high school football stadium and events center.

In the Anna ISD on the outskirts of the Dallas metro area, voters approved $155 million of bonds as suburban growth reaches the district. With 585 votes cast, only 172 opposed issuing the debt. District officials expect student enrollment to grow by an average of more than 17% every two years, nearly doubling by 2024.

Northwest of Dallas, voters in the Coppell ISD approved $249 million of bonds. The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD between Dallas and Fort Worth also won approval of $249 million to keep up with growth.

South of Fort Worth, the Cleburne ISD enjoyed 2-to-1 support for $130 million of bonds, despite a Tea Party opposition movement.  A similar proposal failed in 2015.

"The passage of this election is an indicator of the value and importance our voters place on education, in their decision to provide top flight facilities, and instructional technology and tools for learning for students and teachers," Cleburne ISD Superintendent Kyle Heath said after the results were known.

In the High Plains region of West Texas, voters in the Lubbock-Cooper ISD showed strong support for $208 million of bonds for the state's third-fastest growing district. Unofficial results showed nearly 65% of the votes in favor of renovating schools, improving safety and upgrading technology.

"This is a great problem to have – families want to move into our district, they want their children to receive a Lubbock-Cooper education because they believe in our vision and they trust us to exceed expectations," Lubbock-Cooper ISD Superintendent Keith Bryant said in a statement.

In the Houston area, the ballot proposals were far fewer than in 2015 elections, but Galena Park ISD in Harris County won passage of a $290 million proposal for new schools. Galena Park ISD estimates the maximum interest and sinking tax rate for the bonds will be 17 cents phased in over a three-year period. That would result in an additional $7.83 in monthly taxes for the owner of a home valued at $100,000.

In the Alvin Community College District, 69% of voters rejected an $88 million proposal to fund a new campus near Pearland and Manvel and to add a building to the Alvin campus.

"The voters have spoken and we will continue to do our best to provide quality education to all of our students," Alvin Community College President Christal Albrecht said.

In the San Antonio area, about 70% of voters in the Boerne ISD approved $175 million of bonds for three new campuses. The district's previous bond proposal for $99 million won approval from 75% of voters.

The Judson ISD near San Antonio won a split decision on its $266 million bond package, which was split into four parts. Three of the proposals worth $214 million were approved, but a proposed expansion of a high school already under construction was rejected.

In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of far South Texas, voters rejected two bond proposals. Unofficial numbers indicate that about 62% of voters in the Weslaco ISD opposed issuing $109 million to renovate and build schools. Passage of the proposal would have raised the tax rate by 12 cents per $100 of property valuation.

In the Donna ISD, about 63% of voters rejected a $22 million bond proposal. Some voters told the McAllen Monitor that their reason for opposing the issue was a lack of trust in the Donna ISD Board of Trustees.

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