Mathis ISD Bond Addresses Facilities Needs and New School

3/8/2010

The Mathis ISD Board of School Trustees has called for a $6.5 bond election with an approval vote of six to one to address the district’s facilities needs and a new school for 4th and 5th graders. Election day is May 8 and early voting is April 26 to May 4th.

The bond will fund a new HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system replacing the 300 air conditioning window units that are old and not energy efficient and noisy, at times requiring that a teacher turn the air conditioner off. With the replacement of the air conditioning window units, the windows will also need to be replaced with a more energy efficient window structures. The bond also funds a proposed new school that will connect the Event Center Cafeteria and the gym to provide students with a one school building that centralizes the cafeteria, library/media center, and a gym and shield students from inclement weather.

Dr. Rodriguez-Casas, Superintendent of Schools stated, “I assure you that we are turning to voters for this bond issue because there is a need to address the facilities needs and at the same time be proactive in securing a new school that serves the educational needs of our students while maximizing the financial resources available to our district. I understand that the tough economic times facing our entire nation, makes it challenging to ask voters for their consideration. However, a sense of urgency to replace the 300 plus obsolete air conditioning window units and the growing list of repairs and renovations based upon a district needs assessment conducted in May, 2005. ”

The Instructional Facilities Allotment (IFA), authorized by House Bill 4 in 1997, helps school districts make debt service payments on qualifying bonds. Bonds must be used for the construction/renovation of instructional facilities only, and therefore, may not be used for the purchase of office equipment and supplies, furniture, nor personnel. The state calculates the maximum allotment for districts using student ADA (Average Daily Attendance). Mathis ISD qualifies for an estimated maximum IFA of $6.5 million,. Taxpayers would repay only 8 cents while the state pays 12 cents. The availability of IFA funding is similar to the district taking a $1,000 loan and only being responsible to repay $300 of that loan. However, school districts must first have an approved bond referendum before applying for IFA.

Based upon conservative assumptions, the bonds are estimated to result in a tax rate increase of 7.974 cents per $100 valuation. The tax increase on an average $40,000 home is an annual increase of $31.90, with a monthly increase of $2.66, and a daily increase of .09 cents. Overall it is less than an $8.00 monthly increase for every $10,000 value. For example, an estimated $70,000 home has an annual increase of $55.82, monthly increase of $4.65, and a daily increase of .16 cents. All homeowners are entitled to a $15,000 homestead exemption, which reduces the impact of any tax increase.

School taxes on resident homesteads are frozen in the year that a taxpayer turns 65 and will not increase as a result of this bond election. However, it is not automatic. Seniors must request this tax freeze through the County Appraisal District (Sec. 11.26 of the State Property Tax Code).

If Mathis ISD is not approved for IFA or Existing Debt Allotment from the state, no bonds will be sold because the district did not receive state agency funding.