Education
BY BROOKE SJOBERG
Citizen-led group spots over $1B in bond projects In a June 18 update, representatives of the Round Rock ISD Citizens Bond Committee shared its members have identi ed between $1 billion and $1.5 billion in potential capital improvements to district facilities and infrastructure. What happened Fabian Cuero and Lindsay Ledyard, co-chairs of the RRISD CBC, told the board of trustees ve subcommittees focused on capital renewal, safety and security, growth, ne arts and athletics, and technology had identi ed potential propositions for a future bond with estimated funding needs for some of these propositions. These recommenda- tions are based on the district's long-range facili- ties master plan as well as community feedback, per the district.
RRISD trustees set legislative priorities With Texas’ 89th legislative session to start Jan. 14, Round Rock ISD trustees approved a list of priorities to send to the Texas Associa- tion of School Boards for potential adoption. The details The priorities submitted to TASB by the board of trustees are as follows: • Improve accountability rating system • Increase the basic allotment and indexing it to keep pace with in ation • Keep public education funding discus- sions separate from discussions about education savings accounts • Increase special education funding and improving program nance • Increase funding to improve hiring and retention of educators
Breaking it down The RRISD Citizens Bond Committee identi ed four possible election propositions.
Proposition D: $30,000,000 Dragon Stadium conversion
Proposition C: $123,750,000 career and technology education center
Proposition A: $830,569,148 general capital improvements Proposition B: $149,263,161 technology improvements
Total $1.10B
SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
The impact To fund the $1 billion to $1.5 billion in potential bond projects, a few scenarios were presented to the board. Per Ledyard, the district could take on up to $1.25 billion in bond projects without having to increase the debt service tax rate, set at $0.1980 per $100 valuation for scal year 2024-25. What's next? Discussions around potential bond projects will continue at a future board workshop, board President Amber Landrum said.
Round Rock ISD passes balanced $466M budget for 2024 25 scal year
The combined rate of $0.8949 per $100 of valuation will fund the district’s regular opera- tions, as well as fund payments on district debts, including bonds. In April, RRISD Chief Financial O cer Dennis Covington shared that the district was projecting a $30 million shortfall due to increases in costs on multiple fronts, including special education services, fuel and school safety.
Round Rock ISD passed a balanced budget after sta identi ed about $30 million in cuts to its proposed budget for the 2024-25 school year. What you need to know The proposed $466 million budget is based on an operating tax rate of $0.6969 per $100 of valuation and a debt service rate of $0.1980 per $100 of valuation.
“We are the only district in Central Texas passing a balanced budget, but it is not without a lot of pains.
Thanks for sticking with us during this budget season.” AMBER LANDRUM, ROUND ROCK ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT
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