"On balance, these local bonds are approved more often than they are rejected but last November, for the first time in 10 years, more school bonds were rejected than approved.

Both in number and price tag, school districts accounted for the lion's share of the bonds up for a vote on Saturday."

Brad Johnson with The Texan reports on those that passed and those that failed on Saturday's local election ballots.

https://thetexan.news/forney-isd-san-antonio-bonds-pass-while-12-of-16-stadium-proposals-fail-in-may-local-election/

When people's grocery bills have doubled in a few short months, and school districts have spent 2 years trying to prevent teachers from teaching and students from learning its a slap in the face to tell parents they have to pony up more.

When our school districts bond failed last year they had the balls to send a survey out to parents basically asking "Did you supoort the bond? Yes or No. Do you care about your child? Yes or no?"

There is a discussion in another thread about this.

My district, Tomball, put up a 5 part bond last fall. They asked for $567 million. Only the parts for new school construction, additional buses, and technology upgrades passed. The other three, for athletic upgrades, fine arts, and a natatorium were shot down. And that was with NO increase to our tax rate.

Klein ISD (a neighboring district to Tomball) just asked for $1.1 billion. They also want to raise the tax rate from 1.3 to 1.33 to fund it.

Construction of a new school and renovations to existing schools passed, but most of the rest failed - including a $133 million events center and $70+ million for another stadium and renovations to the existing one.

I would have voted against everything but the new school construction and renovation. Appraised values have gone through the roof here, and it wasn't unexpected. I realize the increased tax revenue doesn't go back to the ISD, but to pile a tax increase on top of the value increases is just salt in an open wound.

And there is no way I'd support a $133 million event center with where construction costs are right now.

I saw tons of signs for the bond and very few against, but people are paying attention.

Even still, they still got almost $900 million in the ones that passed.

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12 of 16 Stadium Proposals Fail

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End govt owned sports teams

These do need to be scaled back to school construction and renovation for the time being. None of this football stadium crap anymore.

$18.5 billion in bonds up for a vote this past weekend. Holy ****

Did Medina Valley ISD pass or fail?
Maybe the margins are too close, but I haven't seen anything anywhere else that definitively says.

Any Boerne ISD bond opponents/proponents in here?

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There is a discussion in another thread about this.

My district, Tomball, put up a 5 part bond last fall. They asked for $567 million. Only the parts for new school construction, additional buses, and technology upgrades passed. The other three, for athletic upgrades, fine arts, and a natatorium were shot down. And that was with NO increase to our tax rate.

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They'll study which areas were most against it, give them some additional concessions, repackage those exact same things next time, and it'll pass.

Round Rock likes to advertise and promote certain amounts, and close to the election, change what's included in those amounts. They recently did this when they advertised a new HS in the bonds, and then removed it, but the amount on the ballot was almost identical...so it passed, but no new high school.

I've watched this movie play out too many times.

The article needs enrollment listed next to the bond $, so it is easy to understand. Take Granbury - do they even have 10k kids in the district? I get growth but jeebus... that is nearly $40k in additional debt load per current student assuming their enrollment is 10k.

AgGrad99 said:

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There is a discussion in another thread about this.

My district, Tomball, put up a 5 part bond last fall. They asked for $567 million. Only the parts for new school construction, additional buses, and technology upgrades passed. The other three, for athletic upgrades, fine arts, and a natatorium were shot down. And that was with NO increase to our tax rate.

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They'll study which areas were most against it, give them some additional concessions, repackage those exact same things next time, and it'll pass.

Round Rock likes to advertise and promote certain amounts, and close to the election, change what's included in those amounts. They recently did this when they advertised a new HS in the bonds, and then removed it, but the amount on the ballot was almost identical...so it passed, but no new high school.

I've watched this movie play out too many times.

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Ugh…that's shady as all get out.

I supported all of the TISD bonds, although I was on the fence about the natatorium. But the fact that they rolled funds for fine arts in them and we didn't get approval is tough. I have a kid in band, and I'm on the band booster board. The amount of money we have to beg, borrow, and steal to keep these kids in a competitive band program puts a real strain on parents.

I've watched our district build a lot of new schools in our district as well as a stadium (we were the only 6A school without a modern one) over the last 10 years, and they've done well managing construction costs. We get nice facilities, but they aren't over the top.

But we live in one of the most rapidly growing districts in the state. The tax base is there, and they've been able to do it with no increase in the tax rate. They actually lowered our rate in 2021-2022. And it's down to $1.25 from $1.34 since 2015.

TXTransplant said:

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I would have voted against everything but the new school construction and renovation. Appraised values have gone through the roof here, and it wasn't unexpected. I realize the increased tax revenue doesn't go back to the ISD, but to pile a tax increase on top of the value increases is just salt in an open wound.

And there is no way I'd support a $133 million event center with where construction costs are right now.

I saw tons of signs for the bond and very few against, but people are paying attention.

Even still, they still got almost $900 million in the ones that passed.

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That's the kicker... ON top of the massive increases in appraised value these bonds still result in a tax increase to fund them! If nearly every homestead hadn't seen a 10% increase the Klein tax hike for these bonds would have likely been much higher than the 1.30 --> 1.33.

There were some opposition signs that made it onto curbsides, but Klein had a well developed campaign ready to roll when bond requests passed the board of trustees. The opposition groups, like always, are caught playing catch-up.

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Ugh…that's shady as all get out.

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It really is.

They routinely did that under Flores (the former super), though I dont know if he's to blame. It was common with bonds, re-zoning, etc. They got a new middle school funded/built, and then changed who could attend after it was voted on. They are highly regarded as a district, but I'm glad to almost be done with them.

AgGrad99 said:

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Quote:

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Ugh…that's shady as all get out.

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It really is.

They routinely did that under Flores (the former super), though I dont know if he's to blame. It was common with bonds, re-zoning, etc. They got a new middle school funded/built, and then changed who could attend after it was voted on. They are highly regarded as a district, but I'm glad to almost be done with them.

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Rezoning is controversial in our district right now, too. Population demographics are shifting. I have three Elem schools in my hood - one was originally built not long after the first home construction. Since then, two more elms and a jr high have come along. The original elem was filled to capacity, but now all those kids are in jr high and high school, and the newest elementary has portables because it's so crowded. But rezoning kids to the two older schools will mean a lot of them can no longer walk to school. Parents are hot.

I'm just glad my kid will be a senior next year and I won't have a dog in this fight. Band boosters has taken every single bit of any GAF I had about the school and the district.

TheTexanNews said:

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"On balance, these local bonds are approved more often than they are rejected but last November, for the first time in 10 years, more school bonds were rejected than approved.

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Excellent.
F public schools. All of them.

Bridge City and it's 8700 people voted for a $100 million boondoggle. Property taxes are going to skyrocket.

SociallyConditionedAg said:

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Bridge City and it's 8700 people voted for a $100 million boondoggle. Property taxes are going to skyrocket.

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property taxes are already skyrocketing state wide with appraisal values going insane.

Just wait until they start kicking out neighborhoods based on making the school more 'diverse'.

AgGrad99 said:

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Just wait until they start kicking out neighborhoods based on making the school more 'diverse'.

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These hoods are very affluent, but significantly Hispanic. So that hasn't been so much of an issue in our district.

Predmid said:

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SociallyConditionedAg said:

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Bridge City and it's 8700 people voted for a $100 million boondoggle. Property taxes are going to skyrocket.

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property taxes are already skyrocketing state wide with appraisal values going insane.

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Regardless of the appraisal a taxing authority may not increase their taxpayer supported budgets by more than 3.5% in a given tax year; 2.5% for school districts.

Since everyone is seeing jumps in their appraisals, the 2.5% and 3.5% caps are going to hit the taxing authorities.

Re: stadia referendums.

Part of the fallout has to be changing demographics.

You can't fill a bunch of schools with immigrants/children of immigrants from India, China and Mexico/central America and expect the same commitment to high school football as you had 30 years ago.

It amazes me that so few people recognize that demographics is destiny. They get all excited because a couple of ethnic restaurants opened up nearby but are clueless that all these newcomers don't share their values or interests.

So why are college stadiums still built that way?

Yep, need the enrollment numbers to actually see what this amounts to per student. Our districts bond, that failed, was one of the smaller bonds in the state, but the debt/student was north of $50k

Mr. White said:

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Any Boerne ISD bond opponents/proponents in here?

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Opponent here, although I no longer live in the district, so could not vote (but still pay taxes there)! Low turnout ensured passage. With this, the bonded indebtedness will ultimately be $43,750/ student! Insanity!

Columbus shot down a $90M bond election for a new high school, career & technology center, and an elementary school addition by a 2-1 margin. Brenham defeated a $154M bond election for additions to the high school, a new junior high, and career & technology center. If you live long enough, history repeats itself. Now, ISD's are trying to put VOC-ED back into schools like when I went to school ages ago with these new career & technology centers.

I hate taxes as much as anyone but construction costs are not going to get any less and the cost of borrowing is going up. When you have facilities that are very dated design wise and year built, there is only so much you can do before it becomes more cost efficient to build new. That said, some of the palaces I have seen built on the Houston periphery makes me wonder if the tail is wagging the dog with architects and contractors trying to sell things that are not really needed.

EclipseAg said:

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Re: stadia referendums.

Part of the fallout has to be changing demographics.

You can't fill a bunch of schools with immigrants/children of immigrants from India, China and Mexico/central America and expect the same commitment to high school football as you had 30 years ago.

It amazes me that so few people recognize that demographics is destiny. They get all excited because a couple of ethnic restaurants opened up nearby but are clueless that all these newcomers don't share their values or interests.

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This is an interesting comment. We are at Tomball High. The home side of our stadium was full every game. There was an 80 year old man with season tickets next to mine who just likes to support the school. The Tomball High/Tomball Memorial game backed up traffic for 5 miles on the Grand Parkway. Our playoff game with Bridgeland was sold out.

But we also played some of the Klein schools at home. None of them are very far away, but their attendance was terrible. I swear there was one Klein team (don't remember which) who had more kids in the band than people in the visitor stands watching.

It's very obvious all the districts are competing to have the biggest and best whatever. Our district leadership will point blank tell you that Katy ISD is the district they are modeling after. These districts are also very eager to rent out these stadiums and facilities, although, I don't really know how much money is made doing that.

Klein ISD also has 5 high schools. With one stadium, there are always games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Regardless of attendance, I think they want to relieve that scheduling nightmare. They are also not the destination for playoff games like the newer stadiums in the area are, because their existing stadium is 50+ years old.

Threshholds for bonds to pass should be minimum 60.00001%

I have to admit I haven't been a Texas resident for nearly 40 years. But when my parents drove me past the "Parmer Palace" high school football stadium, I was shocked. It was definitely larger than my daughters colleges stadium (Cornell), and I think probably most college stadiums in the northeast. The stadium in NJ where my daughter went to high school was a joke in comparison. But guess what. They do all the same the things. They actually play a game, there is a band, cheerleaders. Everything.

I am glad to see that Texans are finally getting their priorities straight.

Kenneth_2003 said:

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Predmid said:

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SociallyConditionedAg said:

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Bridge City and it's 8700 people voted for a $100 million boondoggle. Property taxes are going to skyrocket.

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property taxes are already skyrocketing state wide with appraisal values going insane.

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Regardless of the appraisal a taxing authority may not increase their taxpayer supported budgets by more than 3.5% in a given tax year; 2.5% for school districts.

Since everyone is seeing jumps in their appraisals, the 2.5% and 3.5% caps are going to hit the taxing authorities.

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The cap was 8% last year due to Abbott's disaster declaration, which our county took full advantage of. The declaration is still in effect, so we'll see if anyone is anymore fiscally responsible than last year.

EclipseAg said:

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Re: stadia referendums.

Part of the fallout has to be changing demographics.

You can't fill a bunch of schools with immigrants/children of immigrants from India, China and Mexico/central America and expect the same commitment to high school football as you had 30 years ago.

It amazes me that so few people recognize that demographics is destiny. They get all excited because a couple of ethnic restaurants opened up nearby but are clueless that all these newcomers don't share their values or interests.

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My children are in both band and athletics. The athletics is almost all white kids, the band is split fifty fifty with whites and Indians.

The Indians will tell you that no one's dad wants them to be a cricket player when they grow up. Doctor or engineer or don't bother calling home.

It's about time that property owners started paying more attention to the ISD finances. Sadly, it took a record poor economy (thanks JOE!) to make people start paying attention.

Do you happen to have a proposition for how to complete all of the extra curriculars for all of those new schools? Your fine with build new and expanding old schools I'm sure you want kids involved but you don't want them to be able to do it.

I'm in Klein I voted against the renovation prop A because I was told by multiple sources the district can afford to do it already.

I voted against B because I despise 1 to 1 instruction

I voted for C because multipurpose buildings can bring in revenue in addition to making it where you don't have to rent other faculties for prom, graduation, indoor sports etc

I voted for D because football, band, soccer, track etc need facilities and week night games suck. Also that facility can then make some money back being rented

TXTransplant said:

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EclipseAg said:

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Re: stadia referendums.

Part of the fallout has to be changing demographics.

You can't fill a bunch of schools with immigrants/children of immigrants from India, China and Mexico/central America and expect the same commitment to high school football as you had 30 years ago.

It amazes me that so few people recognize that demographics is destiny. They get all excited because a couple of ethnic restaurants opened up nearby but are clueless that all these newcomers don't share their values or interests.

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This is an interesting comment. We are at Tomball High. The home side of our stadium was full every game. There was an 80 year old man with season tickets next to mine who just likes to support the school. The Tomball High/Tomball Memorial game backed up traffic for 5 miles on the Grand Parkway. Our playoff game with Bridgeland was sold out.

But we also played some of the Klein schools at home. None of them are very far away, but their attendance was terrible. I swear there was one Klein team (don't remember which) who had more kids in the band than people in the visitor stands watching.

It's very obvious all the districts are competing to have the biggest and best whatever. Our district leadership will point blank tell you that Katy ISD is the district they are modeling after. These districts are also very eager to rent out these stadiums and facilities, although, I don't really know how much money is made doing that.

Klein ISD also has 5 high schools. With one stadium, there are always games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Regardless of attendance, I think they want to relieve that scheduling nightmare. They are also not the destination for playoff games like the newer stadiums in the area are, because their existing stadium is 50+ years old.

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That would be Klein Forest. They are the furthest away from you and haven't had a winning season in probably over a decade.

Oak, Cain, Klein and Collins pack em in pretty good.

Klein Memorial isn't allowed to host playoffs past I think the first round because of age and capacity restrictions set by UIL

Frisco had a bond election a few years ago right after they built a gigantic super modern admin building. One of the voting locations was at school in view of its covered tennis courts. Residents said, "no thanks."

medwriter said:

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It's about time that property owners started paying more attention to the ISD finances. Sadly, it took a record poor economy (thanks JOE!) to make people start paying attention.

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Actually it was Covid. When the kids came home, the parents saw school first hand. But some of the bonds were starting to fail even before covid.