FAQs

School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required to renovate existing buildings or build a new school. Essentially, it’s permission to take out a loan to build, renovate, and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects.

Yes. Recent research by the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that a school’s physical environment can play a major role in academic performance. Leaky roofs and problems with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems can trigger a host of health problems – including asthma and allergies – that increase absenteeism and reduce academic performance. Research links key environmental factors to health outcomes and students’ ability to perform.

Working with Board of Trustees, teachers and administrators from across the district, the facilities planning committee developed a list of requested items to consider for inclusion in a 2022 bond package. Bonham ISD has been evaluating current facilities and equipment, ongoing enrollment growth and district priorities with the Board of Trustees.

Click here for Campus Reconfiguration Chart

If this happens, the price of the bond package will continue to increase with inflation, costing the District and taxpayers more money in the future.

After the November 2022 election, the Facility Planning Committee re-gathered and unanimously decided to recommend the May bond to the board of trustees.

They determined that the cost of the bond would increase every year due to inflation, while the projects addressed in the the bond scope will remain until a bond is passed.

When our construction and architectural firms looked at those lists with the facility committee, it was determined that the selected projects are not best suited to be completed by our maintenance department for several reasons.

One barrier is time. Our maintenance department consists of an electrician, HVAC technician and one general maintenance employee. Their days are spent with repairs or providing preventive maintenance to HVAC, electrical and plumbing along with general maintenance of our buildings. As an example, if BISD's 3 person maintenance department was responsible for completely reflooring an entire building, it would then not allow for other projects they should be completing (electrical, HVAC) to be completed and have to be subbed out.

Secondly, installing windows and doors, building covered awnings, building entrance steps, ramps and sidewalks, bringing bathrooms up to ADA code with new sinks and toilets are construction projects and BISD doesn't employ a construction crew. With most school construction, we are required to have engineering plans and/or approval; those contractors that will provide those services have engineers on staff and also have the expertise in construction, flooring installation, concrete work, etc. Large scale projects are better left to construction companies.

Finally, with a total price tag of $4.4M, it would take approximately 8-10 years for me to set aside that kind of money to complete all the projects at today's prices and by then they could be in worse shape. Approximately 75% of my M&O budget goes toward salaries (this is similar across all Districts). The remaining 25% must pay utilities, fuel, supplies, instructional materials and provide for repairs and preventive maintenance; it is not designed for major renovation and/or replacement.

There will be no I&S tax rate increase if the voters approve the bonds. Likewise, there will be no tax rate reduction if the voters do not approve the bonds. The debt service tax rate will remain at $0.34/per $100 of taxable value.

Click here to see Bonham ISD’s Tax Rate History

The payments for the new bonds are added to the payments for the existing bonds (2012 and 2016).

The growth in the tax base that has occurred and is projected to continue to grow will provide additional tax collections that allow the District to pay for the 2012, 2016 and any new bonds without raising the I&S tax rate of $0.3420.

Larger value + same I&S tax rate = More dollars collected.

The property taxes of those 65 and older with a homestead exemption would not be affected if the bond referendum passes. Taxes of those receiving the 65 and older homestead exemption are frozen at their present rate for as long as they maintain their homestead. You must apply for this exemption.

A school district’s tax rate is comprised of two components: the Maintenance & Operations tax (M&O) and the Interest & Sinking tax (I&S). The M&O rate is used to operate the school district, including salaries, utilities, furniture, supplies, food, gas, etc. The I&S rate is used to pay off school construction bonds. Bond sales only affect the I&S rate.

No. The payments for the new bonds are added to the payments for the existing bonds (those approved in 2012 and 2016). The growth in the tax base that has occurred and is projected to continue to grow will provide additional tax collections that allow the District to pay for the 2012, 2016 and any new bonds without raising the I&S tax rate of $0.3420.

This requirement was a part of new laws coming from Austin after the legislative session in 2019. The Texas legislature wanted the ballot language to be clear, that voted bonds were the method that we use to finance school construction. Paying for these voted bonds requires tax revenues.

There will be no tax rate increase associated with this bond but will continue the existing tax rate. The new law requires every district in Texas to include this language on the ballot, regardless of the expected tax rate to be set.

Click Here to see a Sample Ballot