FAQs

Which schools benefit from this bond program?
The bond is proposed at $80 million and includes projects at every campus throughout the District. See projects by school.

Why do districts utilize bonds?
On the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) side, for every $1 collected from taxpayers, Eanes ISD keeps approximately $0.34. On the bond side, for every $1 received, Eanes ISD keeps 100 percent.

New construction and certain infrastructure can only be funded with bonds. M&O money funds day-to-day expenses, such as teacher salaries and campus utilities

Local communities decide how to pay for their needs. Approximately 66 percent of the M&O taxes received by Eanes ISD is taken by the State of Texas as Recapture for redistribution to the State’s General Fund.

What kind of projects are included on the 2019 Bond?
The bond is proposed at $80 million and includes projects at every campus throughout the District.

The bond includes projects in the following categories: safety & security, student programs & support, energy efficiency & conservation, facilities and co- and extra-curricular spaces for aquatics, robotics and wrestling.

How was the 2019 Bond determined?
Bond projects were introduced in several meetings focused in the following categories: safety & security, student programs & support, energy efficiency & conservation, facilities and co- and extra-curricular spaces for aquatics, robotics and wrestling. Beginning in September 2018 and ending in January 2019, projects were discussed at the Bond Advisory Committee (BAC) meetings then the Eanes ISD Board meetings. 
 

How was the Bond Advisory Committee formed?
The Board approved the new charter that re-purposed the 2015 Bond Oversight Committee (BOC) to an advisory committee for the 2019 bond. The committee was charged to vet the necessity and desirability of potential projects; prioritize projects in the event some might need to be removed for cost reasons; and determine how best to present projects to provide public transparency and oversight guidance for a future BOC.

What are projects in the Safety & Security category of the bond?
Some of the projects include:
Perimeter fencing/barriers
Campus emergency notification systems
Security cameras & access controls
Cyber security infrastructure
Fire alarm systems

View the complete list.

What are projects in the Student Programs & Support category of the bond?

Some of the projects include:
Fine Arts equipment
Athletics uniforms & equipment
Classroom flexible furniture
Library upgrades & refurbishments
Buses
School bus seatbelts
Student technology
Classroom technology/lab devices
Staff technology
Audio/Video in classrooms
Performing Arts Center lighting & technology

View the complete list.

What are projects in the Energy Efficiency & Conservation category of the bond?

Some of the projects include:
LED lighting retrofit
Room occupancy lighting control sensors

View the complete list.

What are projects in the Facilities category of the bond?

Some of the projects include:
Campus refurbishments (painting & flooring)
Plumbing, electrical
Middle schools - artificial turf replacement
HVAC
Roofing

View the complete list.

What are projects in the Co- and Extra-Curricular Spaces category of the bond?
Aquatics Center
Robotics expansion
Wrestling space

View the complete list.

How will the 2019 Bond impact my Eanes ISD property tax rate?
The proposed bond requires no tax rate increase; those over 65 have their EISD taxes frozen. 

How can EISD propose a bond with no tax rate increase? How is that possible?
Because Eanes ISD has been retiring past debt and, in some cases, paying debt off early, combined with the assessed evaluation of property (TAV) in the Eanes ISD attendance area consistently increasing, we know that the current .14 EISD bond rate will generate enough revenue to meet our obligations for the proposed Bond without having to increase the rate.  

What is the district's bond rating and general financial status?
The District's current credit ratings are "AA+" from Standard & Poor's Rating Service, and "AA+" by Fitch Ratings. The District's FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) rating is "Superior Achievement."

How does the bond program affect the District's M&O Budget?
The bond program takes the pressure off of the District's Maintenance and Operations (M&O) budget, which is used to pay for day-to-day expenses, such as teacher salaries, as well as campus utilities. 

On the M&O side, for every $1 collected from taxpayers, Eanes ISD keeps approximately $0.34.  This is because Eanes ISD is categorized by the state as a "property wealthy" district.  As a result, currently approximately 66 percent of the M&O taxes received by Eanes ISD is taken by the State of Texas under the "Robin Hood" plan for the State's General Fund. The recapture rate for Eanes ISD has increased by approximately 10 percent each year, totalling more than $1 billion since 1995.

On the bond side, for every $1 received, Eanes ISD keeps 100 percent. Bond money cannot be used for teacher salaries; however, bond money can be used to pay for certain capital expenses that might otherwise be funded from M&O money, so that more M&O funds are available for salaries. Bond money is used for capital expenditures, buses and technology.

Are bond funds recaptured?
No, bond funds are not subject to recapture by the state under current school finance funding formulas; 100 percent of these funds remain in Eanes ISD.

How does recapture affect the District's Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Budget?
The recapture rate for Eanes ISD has increased by approximately 10 percent each year, totaling more than $1 billion since 1995. Currently approximately 66 percent of the M&O taxes received by Eanes ISD is taken by the State of Texas under the "Robin Hood" plan for redistribution to the State's General Fund.

Based on the most recent certified value of taxable property within the District, as an individual homeowner's property value increases, for each additional dollar increase in the taxable value of property, Eanes ISD keeps approximately five cents of each maintenance dollar collected, while the State of Texas receives approximately 95 cents of each maintenance tax dollar collected as part of the State's recapture program. The District receives less money from homeowners with an over 65 homestead exemption due to the increased recapture rate.

Why is an aquatics center on the bond?
Currently the Westlake High School swim teams practice at the Rollingwood Pool for approximately $30,000 a year. The rental contract with Rollingwood is through the 2019-20 school year after such time their new board will determine decisions on rentals.

There is a possibility of revenue associated with renting a pool to the community and outside groups.

The debt to build this facility would not be issued until 1) construction is deemed feasible and 2) necessary permitting and approvals are obtained and 3) the facility's impact on M&O budget would be significantly mitigated or eliminated.

What contingencies did the Board put on the building of an aquatics center?
The debt to build this facility would not be issued until 1) construction is deemed feasible and 2) necessary permitting and approvals are obtained and 3) the facility's impact on M&O budget would be significantly mitigated or eliminated.

What do the estimates for construction cost of building an aquatics center include?
The estimates for construction cost of building an aquatics center include soft costs (eg. design fees, permitting, etc.), contingency costs, and at least one year of building escalation costs since the soonest construction could begin would be 2020.

How were the construction cost estimates developed?
The construction cost estimates were developed working with two experts in the field who came to the same conclusion separately. The estimates on the operational costs (M&O) are comparable to what other districts in Texas have shared with us who have built and operate similar size pools.

How will an aquatics center impact the District's M&O budget?
Similar to the District’s facility and field rentals revenue program, there may be potential for a pool to generate enough income to significantly or completely eliminate any impact on the District’s M&O budget. 

Issuing debt on the aquatics center would require Board approval and would not occur until 1) construction is deemed feasible and 2) necessary permitting and approvals are obtained and 3) the facility's impact on M&O budget would be significantly mitigated or eliminated.

The Board agreed to use no more than $4 million of funds from the sale of the Baldwin and River Hills properties to fund construction of new facilities proposed in the bond.

What happens if the aquatics center is not deemed feasible?
If the aquatics center is not deemed feasible, the debt portion dedicated to the construction of the aquatics center would not be issued and would never be used for other purposes.

Why is a wrestling space on the 2019 Bond?
There is no dedicated, permanent space for the wrestling program, including storage of mats and equipment. A new space could accommodate other programs such as softball, tennis, fine arts, etc.

What contingencies did the Board put on a wrestling space?
The debt to build this space would not be issued until construction is deemed feasible and necessary permitting and approvals are obtained.

Why is a robotics expansion on the 2019 Bond?
Student participation in the robotics program has increased at the middle school and high school levels. Worldwide, careers in robotics, engineering and automation have increased.

The UIL Robotics competition format (time and space) is no longer available for sufficient practice time. The expansion would allow two new classrooms for the engineering program as well as three additional classrooms for other programs in the main building for campus use. There is no adequate space at nearby facilities; the existing Robotics facility cannot accommodate the new competition format.

What contingencies did the Board put on the building of a robotics expansion?
The debt to build this facility would not be issued until construction is deemed feasible and necessary permitting and approvals are obtained.