AISD $380.1M bond targets growth with new, expanded campuses From the cover
The cost
The overview
If the bond is passed, residents will see a tax rate decrease of $0.02, according to bond documents. The board adopted a tax rate of $1.17 per $100 valuation for the 2024 tax year at its Sept. 10 meeting. AISD Chief Financial Officer Daniel Combs said that rate will drop down to $1.15 if the bond is approved. “The new rate of $1.15 would be the ceiling for the life of this bond package, … so the rate would stay at $1.15 or below,” Combs said. “Our taxpayers certainly can anticipate a tax rate decrease should the bond be approved or [not].” Combs also noted that with the current homestead exemption, homeowners could see tax bills go down $80 even with the bond approved. The district would be able to lower the current tax rate with the new bond because it would replace the 2018 bond, Combs said. The current tax rate accounts for the 2018 bond. However, it’s unclear what the tax rate might be if the bond fails. Options could include: • Lowering the tax rate as no new debt is being created • Keeping the tax rate the same to continue paying off other debt • A combination of the first two options
The $380.1 million bond follows the 2018 $480.5 million bond. Similar to this bond package, that bond was aimed toward district growth, per the district’s website. The 2018 bond resulted in five new campuses, two replacement campuses, renovations to existing campuses and land for future schools. The 2018 bond projects were completed $15 million under budget. The 2024 bond’s projects are worth $395.1 million, but the savings from 2018 bring the total new funds needed down to $380.1 million, according to bond proposal documents. Since the 2018 bond, enrollment increased by about 4,095 students, according to the Texas Education Agency. A 2024 study from Zonda Demographics suggests that trend will continue, with the district expected to add hundreds of students each year over the next decade. The $380.1 million bond was recommended by the district’s Citizens Advisory Committee, which consisted of parents, elected officials and community members, according to the district’s website. Along with recommending two new elementary schools and a junior high school, the CAC recommended the following in the bond proposition: • Replacement campus for Disney Elementary and Stevenson Primary • Renovations and additions to Manvel High School and Alvin High School • Updating security vestibules, monitoring equipment and purchasing backup generators • Acquiring future land sites
Alvin ISD’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee’s projected solution costs
New elementary schools $91.97M Renovations to Alvin and Manvel high schools $143.9M
New junior high school in 2027 $88.24M
Replacement elementary school in 2026 $44.33M
Land and design $12.5M
Security $12M
Backup generators $2.1M
Alvin ISD's enrollment projection
36K 32K 28K 30K 34K
Alvin ISD’s tax rate through the years (by tax year)
$1.3977
$1.3977
$1.3977
$1.3777
+24.3%
$1.1923
$1.17*
School year
*NOTE: 2023-24 ENROLLMENT IS NOT PROJECTED
2023
2020
2021
2022
2019
2024
SOURCES: ALVIN ISD’S CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ZONDA DEMOGRAPHICS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
*THE 2024 TAX RATE WOULD DROP DOWN TO $1.15 IF THE BOND IS APPROVED.
SOURCE: ALVIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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