WISD’s $218.1M bond includes new stadium, natatorium From the cover
What they’re saying
Two-minute impact
were taken off the bond package due to the economic climate at the time, according to the district’s website. “The reality is the growth is coming,” Fails said. “We can’t stop it, and as an educational facility, it is our job to be prepared and to provide the best education and academic facilities we can.” After a community bond presentation held March 19, Juan Cristales, who has three children in WISD, said he didn’t know how he was going to vote on the 2024 propositions. “I’ve heard opposing opinions,” Cristales said. “And I need to figure out which way we’re going to go with this thing.”
In the May 4 election, voters in WISD’s jurisdiction will have the opportunity to vote for or against four bond propositions totaling $218.1 million. This latest bond election follows a $100.15 million bond in 2020 and a $143 million bond in 2022. “The next phase of growth that we need to address is the high school,” Fails said. This upcoming bond election is also the second time voters will weigh in on propositions for a stadium and natatorium. In the 2022 bond election, propositions for the stadium and natatorium did not pass by 77 and 12 votes, respectively. In 2020, these two propositions
“There’s some concerns. We have a lot of high growth. … But then also going into debt so much is pretty extreme.” JUAN CRISTALES, WISD PARENT
“We just want the public to remember that every time we delay doing these things, they cost more in the long run, and they also hurt our capability to expand for our students that are coming anyway. ” JAMIE FAILS, WISD DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
2020 BOND $100.15M total
2022 BOND $224.95M total
2024 BOND $218.1M total
Proposition A (funded): • District-wide facility updates • Elementary gym additions • Lynn Lucas Middle School expansion • New pre-K center
Proposition A (funded): • Elementary School No. 7 • Middle School No. 3 • Lynn Lucas Middle School fine arts addition • High school baseball and softball field upgrades • Elementary school playground equipment upgrades • Future land purchases Proposition B (failed): • New football stadium and community room Proposition C (failed): • New natatorium
Proposition A: • Ninth-grade expansion • Transportation center • General infrastructure • Parking lot upgrades Proposition B: • An athletic complex and stadium with community room Proposition C: • An aquatic center Proposition D: • A student activity center
Diving in deeper
With the 2020 and 2022 bond packages, there was no increase to the tax rate because of the dis- trict’s growth and the increase in property taxes, Fails said. With the 2024 bond, the district expects there will be a tax rate increase. “With the amount of bond debt that we have right now, it’s just not going to be the same situation,” Fails said. “When you’re passing bonds in a short amount of time like that, it’s not as easy to do the no-tax-increase thing.” If all four 2024 bond propositions pass, the tax rate would increase by $0.079 per $100 of valuation. That figure will decrease if not all the propositions pass, Fails said.
$100.15M
$102.7M
For: 49%
$143M
Against: 51%
$68.8M
$19.6M
For: 49.84% Against: 50.16%
$62.56M
$27M
$19.39M
WILLIS ISD TAX RATE
per $100 valuation
SOURCE: WILLIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
$1.50
WISD STUDENT GROWTH
$1.20
20K
Projected
18,970
$0.90
15K
8,978
$0.60
10K
7,493
$0.30
5K
+19.8%
+111.3%
from 2018-19 to 2023-24
from 2023-24 to 2033-34
$0
0
SOURCE: WILLIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT *ANTICIPATED MAXIMUM TAX RATE INCREASE IF ALL PROPOSITIONS PASS
SOURCE: WILLIS ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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