In the budget The rst, and largest, of the prop- ositions—Proposition A—is valued at $2.32 billion. The major items include safety upgrades, infrastructure improvements, school moderniza- tions and new school buses. The project with the largest price tag at $251.46 million is a full mod- ernization of Travis Early College High School. Full modernization means the school will be rebuilt or renovated entirely. Included in Proposition A are funds for either full or phased moderniza-
facilities. Long-range planning com- mittees made up of students, commu- nity members and district personnel then collaborated to develop a list of potential projects. In Texas, school districts use bond dollars for major facility projects. Bond dollars are not subject to recapture—a process in which prop- erty-wealthy school districts have to pay into the state. As AISD is slated to send nearly $850 million—or a little over half of the district’s $1.68 billion 2022-23 budget—the bond o ers the district a
84 campuses. Additionally, Proposition A also includes new keys, locks and fenc- ing for some campuses; upgrades to HVAC systems, plumbing and life safety systems; and nearly $26 million for new school buses. Athletic facilities at each compre- hensive high school would receive upgrades. Mental health centers will be built or upgraded at 42 campuses, including at Navarro Early College High School and Hart Elementary School. The second Proposition, B, is val- ued at $75.54 million and would fund technology improvements. Of that, $45 million would be dedicated to pur- chasing devices for students and sta , and $10 million would go to updating the district’s network infrastructure. The smallest Proposition, C, com- ing in at $47.43 million, would fund upgrades for district athletic facili- ties. The baseball eld at the Burger Athletic Complex in South Austin would be renovated for a projected $4.77 million. Cost to taxpayers If the package passes, the district will sell the bonds to investors on the bond market, and use the money to fund its projects. The district will then repay investors on a schedule using the debt service tax revenue collected from taxpayers. AISD’s proposed overall tax rate for scal year 2022-23 would be the district’s lowest in 21 years, a $0.0651 decrease from the previous year. The district also projects a decrease in the overall rate for FY 2023-24. Even with the passage of the bond pack- age and an ensuing $0.01 increase to the debt service rate, the rate would remain lower. A lower tax rate does not necessar- ily mean a lower tax bill. The median market value of a home within AISD’s boundaries increased by 49.74% from 2021 to 2022, while the median tax- able property value over the same time period increased 11.51%. In an e ort to educate AISD commu- nity members and Austin residents on the bond, AISD o cials have planned a series of informational events ahead of the election. “We can not miss this historic opportunity,” Mays said at an Aug. 9 board work session. In-person early voting runs Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.
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of them to support this $2.44 billion,” Rodriguez said. “It’s an investment in our community.” The package, which will appear as three propositions on voters’ ballots, includes funding for infrastructure improvements, school moderniza- tions, security measures, technology upgrades, athletic facility renovations and other projects. District o cials said a $0.01 increase per $100 of taxable property value to the debt service tax rate would likely be necessary if the package is passed in full. A homeowner with a $500,000 property would pay $50 more per year in property taxes with the increase. In the wake of the deadly May school shooting in Uvalde, AISD interim Superintendent Anthony Mays stressed that the central plank of the bond is security upgrades. “Safety is our top priority, and that is re ected in this bond,” Mays said during an Aug. 12 press conference. Building the bond After successfully passing a $1.05 billion bond in 2017, AISD began planning for another bond in sum- mer 2021 by assessing campuses and THE BOND breakdown The Austin ISD bond package is made up of three propositions that will be voted on individually.
tions of 25 of the district’s schools. The phased modernizations involve rebuild- ing campuses in steps. Funding from the 2022 bond would pay for some projects, while
funding lifeline, AISD Chief Finan- cial O cer Edu- ardo Ramos said. “Because bond funding is not subject to the state’s recapture formula, 100% of bond dollars will stay in Austin ISD for the bene t of our students and sta ,” Ramos said at an Aug. 12 press conference. Another main
“The students that we have within our schools currently deserve the modernized facilities, and we want to be able to provide the absolute best educational experience for all of our students.” ANTHONY MAYS, AISD INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT
other steps were either previously funded through past bonds or would require an additional round of bond funds approved by voters in the future. The district said it chose campuses with aging or insu cient infrastruc- ture for the renovations. One exam- ple is Travis ECHS, which has several issues including a spot of termite damage that has been unrepaired since 2006. “The students that we have within our schools currently deserve the modernized facilities, and we want to be able to provide the absolute best educational experience for all of our students,” Mays said. Nearly $30 million is allocated to install secure entry vestibules—a set of double doors that require a sta member to buzz guests inside—at
concern for district o cials was ensuring equity among the di erent campuses. Mays said one of the major goals of the bond funding is to close student achievement gaps for those students attending Title 1 schools. To be classi- ed as a Title 1 school, at least 40% of students must be considered econom- ically disadvantaged. In 2021-22, 51.3% of AISD students were considered economically dis- advantaged. At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, 72 campuses in the district are Title 1. “This bond directs more resources to Title 1 schools than any previous bond both in total and by percentage,” Mays said.
Prop A: $2.32 Billion
Funds campus modernizations, new buses, security upgrades and improvements on HVAC systems, plumbing and life safety systems at various locations
Prop C: $47.43 million Funds upgrades for district athletic facilities The Burger Athletic Complex, Noack Sports Complex, Delco Activity Center and Nelson Field would receive upgrades. Prop B: $75.54 million Funds technology upgrades including new devices for students and teachers
COST OF
If the bond package passes:
the bond Here is how the total tax rate would change if the bond package passes in full using a home with $500,000 in taxable value as an example.
= X $0.9666/100 $500,000 $4,833
If the bond package fails:
= X $0.9566/100 $500,000
$4,783
PROJECTED ANNUAL AISD PROPERTY TAXES
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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