Round Rock Edition | September 2024

Round Rock ISD to send largest bond package in district history to voters From the cover

Zooming in on the propositions

Breaking it down

Proposition A: $798.3 million • HVAC, roofing, electrical and plumbing replacements • Fresh paint, new ceiling tiles and flooring at aging facilities • New school buses • New career and technical education facility

The bond package, which was approved to go on the November ballot by the RRISD board of trustees Aug. 15, is the first in six years for the district. The last bond, passed in 2018, totaled $508.4 million and went to alleviating crowding in elementary schools, improving high schools, constructing a natatorium and other investments. With the 2024 proposal, the district aims to address needs of aging facilities and access to career and technical education, as well as replace aging technology. A new athletic facility is also proposed for the district’s east side. RRISD Place 6 Trustee Tiffanie Harrison said that deferred maintenance of RRISD facilities would only become more expensive to tackle if it is not addressed in the near future. “We have not had a bond for six years,” Harrison said. “The cost of construction, the cost of materials increasing [and] the cost of labor is increasing rapidly.”

Total $998.1M

A

Proposition B: $125.3 million • Instructional technology replacements • Technology infrastructure replacements • Improvements to internet speed, connectivity and security of district network

C

B

Proposition C: $8.6 million • Fine arts improvements and upgrades including stage lighting, sound systems

D

A bond is a way for a school district to borrow money from investors to fund capital projects.

Proposition D: $65.9 million • Upgrading competition fields to turf • Locker room upgrades • Construction of a standalone multipurpose athletic facility

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Fund balance over time

The context

$250M $200M $150M $100M $50M 0

No extracurricular programs were cut either, he said, although 5% to 10% budget reductions were implemented across the district. By passing a balanced budget, the district reduced its reliance on its fund balance, said RRISD Chief Financial Officer Dennis Covington. While the district does retain a fund balance, these funds are not allowed to be spent on large projects. Per the Texas School Coalition, fund balances must be used to responsibly manage cash flow or cover operations during emergencies.

Round Rock ISD was one of few in Central Texas to pass a balanced budget this year, although doing so required cutting $30 million in operating expenses. “Having served on this board—this is my sixth budget to vote on—this is the first time that we’ve had a balanced budget in a while,” RRISD Board President Amber Landrum said. Azaiez said the district was able to make budget cuts without having to lay off employees, although some were reassigned to other positions.

Fiscal year

NOTE: EACH FISCAL YEAR RUNS FROM JULY 1 TO JUNE 30. FY 2025 RUNS FROM JULY 2024 TO JUNE 2025.

Full-day Pre-K Needs Full-Day Funding

DID YOU KNOW?

The state requires full-day pre-K but only funds half the day.

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