Conroe - Montgomery Edition - April 2022

A GROWING DISTRICT

MAKING CENTS

TAX RATE TREND District data shows WISD has lowered its property tax rate by $0.21 per $100 of valuation since scal year 2018-19. District ocials anticipate a tax rate increase if all bond propositions are approved.

Willis ISD is projected to exceed 14,500 students in 2030-31, according to an April 2021 study, a 71.6% jump in student enrollment over the next decade.

According to WISD ocials, residents could see a $0.05 increase in the total tax rate from $1.172 to $1.222 per $100 of valuation if all three bond propositions are approved by voters. $200K Home value: $250K $300K

15K

WISD is anticipated to grow in 10 years. MORE THAN 71%

Tax rate (per $100 of valuation)

If propositions pass

12K

Change in WISD taxes paid per year

$1.40

If only bond passes

If bond and Proposition 2 pass:

$1.35

+$150

Texas' Proposition 2 asks voters to raise the homestead exemption on homeowners' school district taxes from $25,000 to $40,000.

$1.30

+$90 +$120 +$60 +$30 0 -$30 -$60 -$90 -$120

$1.222

$1.25

$1.20

$1.15

$1.172

SOURCE: POPULATION AND SURVEY ANALYSTS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

SOURCE: WILLIS ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Willis ISDbond calls formore schools, new football stadium, aquatic center BY ANNA LOTZ

initially discussed in 2020. Harkrider said trustees included a stadium in the bond called in May 2020. However, based on economic conditions at the time, trustees called a new bond for November 2020 after May elections were postponed, which did not include a stadium and aquatic center as originally approved. “It is not a new discussion,” Harkrider said. “Just in two short years with the pandemic, the price escalation is astronomical.” According to WISD’s 2020 bond website, the proposition pitched in May 2020 for a stadium and other athletics eld upgrades totaled $62.35 million, whereas the

have to come into the conversation,” Superintendent Tim Harkrider said in an interview. WISD trustees voted Feb. 9 to place three propositions on the May ballot that would yield a tax rate increase of $0.05 per $100 of valuation if all are approved, although a statewide prop- osition also on the ballot to raise the homestead exemption could result in overall tax savings regardless. Proposition A totals $143 million for a middle school, an elementary school, a ne arts addition at Lynn Lucas Middle School, baseball and softball elds, playground equipment and land, according to WISD. Proposition B totals $62.56 million

for a football stadium and a commu- nity room, and Proposition C totals $19.39 million for a natatorium—or aquatic center—to support the dis- trict’s swimming and diving pro- grams. Students currently must travel to an outdoor pool in Shenandoah. “If we have those clubs and we have those sports, we should have facilities that goalongwith the coinciding sport,” WISD parent Ashlee Cooper said. Athletics facilities While projects are still wrapping up from the $100.1 million bond approved in 2020, Harkrider said replacing the 48-year-old stadium and building an aquatic center were

Willis ISD’s 2022 bond package asks voters to consider approving three propositions totaling $225 million on the May 7 ballot for projects includ- ing a middle school, an elementary school, a football stadium and an aquatic center. According to an April 2021 report from demographics rm Population and Survey Analysts, WISD is pro- jected to enroll 6,000 more students by the 2030-31 school year with sev- eral schools exceeding capacity by that time. This includes Turner and Meador elementary schools, Brabham Middle School and Willis High School. “A second high school is going to

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