Friendswood ISD looks at next steps after failed bond From the cover
In their own words
What happened
Stacy Parsons, an FISD business- and home- owner, said she did not support the bond propositions due to the tax rate increase, as well as the grouping of the items within certain propositions. This included the agricultural center and replacement campus for Westwood Elementary and Bales Intermediate, which were both in Proposition A within the bond package. Parson said she felt the tax rate increase would have potentially put families within the district in a financial bind. FISD resident Melanie Beran said she sup- ported all four propositions within the bond. She said if the bond and the recently voter-approved increase to the state’s homestead exemption, which reduces the taxable value of a primary residence, had both been in effect, her home would have seen a net increase of $7. “I think it’s a complicated math problem, and a lot of people didn’t sit down and do it,” she said.
To help fund a number of upgrades to facilities and technology throughout the district, Friendswood ISD went for a $165 million bond package formed by the district’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee throughout 2025—split into four propositions—Nov. 4. The bond package also included a tax rate increase of $0.16 per $100 valuation of a home. That translates to about $60 more per month, or $720 annually, in taxes for a home valued at $450,000. With nearly 6,500 total voters casting a ballot, each proposition within the bond package failed, according to election results from Galveston County. Residents aged over 50-65 and up took the largest bulk within voting populations. In 2023, the city of Friendswood had about 36.5% of its total population aged 50 and over, while over 33% of its population was 20-49, according to Census Reporter data.
“I wasn’t for the bonds this time. The economy is truly hurting people— single moms, limited income families— and [the bond package would have] increased their monthly payment.”
STACY PARSONS, FRIENDSWOOD BUSINESS- AND HOMEOWNER
“I think people don’t recognize the year and a half that that bond committee put into it, and that they’re taxpayers, just like everybody else, but I think a slimmed down package that is easier to understand will hopefully make a more positive impact.” MELANIE BERAN, FISD RESIDENT
Friendswood ISD's bond package election results
Zooming out
For
Against
Community Impact previously reported. Lamar CISD, which serves parts of Fort Bend County, saw one of four bond propositions fail despite no tax rate increase. The bond included new facilities, stadium upgrades and technology improvements, and voters rejected the stadium proposal, Community Impact previously reported.
Over 60% of school bond propositions failed Nov. 4, according to official statewide results from the Texas Open Data Portal. Among those is Magnolia ISD, which is located in northwest Houston. MISD went for a bond election with three prop- ositions to build new schools and a natatorium. Despite the bond propositions not including a tax rate increase, all three propositions failed, Statewide bond results Passed Partial pass and fail Failed Statewide school bond failures by metro • Houston metro: 91.6% failed, partially failed • Austin metro: 37.5% failed • San Antonio metro: 60% failed, partially failed • Dallas metro: 46.6% failed, partially failed
Proposition A: for construction of school facilities
39.3%
60.7%
Proposition B: for technology equipment
41.67%
58.33%
Proposition C: for construction of recreational facilities
33.73%
66.27%
Proposition D: for refinancing of maintenance tax notes
38.3%
61.7%
Lubbock
Dallas
Voting population
By age
4.3%
65+
31.6%
50-64 35-49 25-35
Austin
24.7%
37.3%
Houston
NOTE: AGES 18-24 WERE NOT PROVIDED
San Antonio
By parent or non-parent
69.7%
Non-parent
30.3%
Parent
NOTE: SOME DISTRICT RESULTS OUTSIDE OF METROS WERE NOT INCLUDED. SOURCE: TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCES: FRIENDSWOOD ISD, GALVESTON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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