Funding growth From the cover
What’s happening?
Bond breakdown
Voters will see a $516.92 million bond package for Magnolia ISD on the ballot when they head to the polls for the Nov. 4 election. MISD trustees approved the package in a 6-1 vote Aug. 11. The bond includes propositions for a new high school, two new elementary schools and a natatorium at a time when MISD is addressing increasing growth across its schools, officials said. “We need seats for ... students,” said Erich Morris, MISD’s assistant superintendent of operations. Proposition A addresses growth in the district. “Within two years, Magnolia West High School will be at or over capacity … in approximately three years, more than half of MISD schools will be near or at capacity,” Morris said. Proposition B focuses on the facilities for the district’s extracurricular activities, including artificial turf for baseball and softball fields, expanded seating and tennis court lighting at both existing high schools to match the construction standards of the new High School No. 3, according to the district. Proposition C is for the construction of a second natatorium to serve Magnolia West High School and High School No. 3, which is expected to open in fall 2029, according to district officials. “We anticipate even more rapid growth due to the new developments in the area, and ... that is the primary driver for the bond,” Morris said. Morris said MISD successfully passed bonds in 2004, 2015 and 2022. “There’s no mechanism to generate enough revenue to pay for new facilities other than the attractive approach of selling bonds,” Morris said in response to why the school district would bring a bond to the ballot.
Proposition A projects $469.55M
Proposition C $24.43M Second MISD natatorium on the west side of the district
Proposition B projects $22.94M Multipurpose facilities for extracurriculars and
High School No. 3: $295.29M Elementary Nos. 10 and 11: $104.41M Facility infrastructure upgrades: $34.32M Land and bus acquisitions: $27.53M Safety and security: $8M
other instructional purposes: $12.10M Baseball and softball turf and seating at both existing high schools: $10.07M Tennis lighting at both existing high schools: $780,334
Magnolia ISD projected student enrollment
10K 15K 20K 25K 30K
25,298
15,595
Projected growth: 62%
0 5K
SOURCE: MAGNOLIA ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Magnolia ISD's tax rate history Maintenance and operations tax rate* Interest and sinking tax rate*
Sorting out details
to pass. Pitre said her personal property taxes have gone up 40% in the last seven years, which is partially why she plans to vote against the bond. “What it is is an increase on top of an already taxed and in some cases struggling population that is just trying to hang on,” Pitre said. Over the past 10 years, Morris said MISD has seen about a 10% average annual increase in taxable property value. Morris also said the district understands that the value within its taxing entity will continue to grow based on economic develop- ment, which is why part of MISD’s calculation is anticipating continued property value growth.
Per district officials, projects in the proposed bond can be funded with the existing tax rate, which will not increase as a result of the bond. Rachael Ervin, a Magnolia resident and MISD parent, served on the district’s facility planning committee for this proposed bond. “I want the school district to be able to keep up with the growth that it’s facing. ... This bond will positively impact every student in our district one way or another,” Ervin said. Magnolia resident Sarah Pitre said she is concerned about the bond’s impact on property taxes due to the increased construction if it were
$1.5
$1.3095
$1.2
$0.9583
$0.9
$0.6
$0.3
$0
*PER $100 VALUATION
SOURCE: MAGNOLIA ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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