Muni District Goes to Voters

The only municipal school district in Texas is asking voters to approve a four-part, $49.9 million bond proposal on May 14 to upgrade and maintain district facilities.

The Stafford Municipal School District serves the 20,000 residents of the Houston suburb of Stafford. It’s the state’s only school system that is not operated as an independent school district.

The City Council joined with school trustees to put the bonds on this week’s ballot.

The largest proposition is for $33.7 million to add more than 90,000 square feet of space onto the existing high school and renovate its cafeteria and library.

The district is also seeking $7.7 million to replace deteriorating classrooms and build new ones, $5.1 million to replace antiquated heating and cooling systems, and $3.5 million to upgrade athletic fields and facilities.

If voters approve all four questions, the property tax rate of $1.11 per $100 of assessed property would go to $1.25 per $100.

Moody’s Investors Services rates the district’s $26 million of outstanding debt at A2. The district’s debt is enhanced to triple-A with coverage by the state’s Permanent School Fund.

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Texas
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