FAQs

What is the purpose of the election on May 6?
The Eanes ISD Board of Trustees has called an election for voters to consider three propositions to authorize safety and security projects, facility renovations and upgrades, energy-efficiency initiatives, the purchase of new learning equipment, stadium repairs, and the purchase of new technological devices for students and district staff.

How was the decision made to call this election?
After district officials spent the first six months of 2022 conducting a thorough review of needs (and potential costs) at all Eanes ISD campuses and facilities, a Bond Advisory Committee met six times during the fall and winter to review those needs and then recommended that the Board of Trustees set an election for a $131.429 million bond proposal.

Why is this bond election broken into three propositions?
The Texas Legislature approved legislation in 2019 that created a distinction among “general purpose” propositions, “special purpose” propositions, and propositions related to the acquisition or update of certain technology equipment. The law requires that proposed bond projects be broken into separate propositions based on these categories.

Which schools benefit from this bond program?
The bond is proposed at $131.4 million and includes projects at every campus throughout the District.

Why do districts utilize bonds?
On the Maintenance & Operations (M&O) side, for every $1 collected from taxpayers, Eanes ISD keeps approximately $0.36. 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 65 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 2023 Bond?
The bond includes projects at every campus throughout the District including maintenance and efficiency projects, including safety and security upgrades, maintenance and refurbishment projects, and the purchase of new technological devices for students and staff.

• Proposition A would authorize safety and security upgrades, physical repairs, and refurbishments at every campus — as well as energy-efficiency projects, network replacements, new learning management system, and library modernizations. Projects include roof and HVAC repairs, playground resurfacing, new pavement of parking lots, server upgrades and replacement of fine arts equipment and instruments. Refurbishment of newly purchased district property adjacent to Westlake High School is also included. Cost: $117.773 million.
• Proposition B would authorize refurbishments at Chaparral Stadium including safety upgrades, pole lighting replacements, a replacement video board and track surface replacement. Cost: $2.411 million.
• Proposition C would authorize the replacement of student and staff digital devices, as well as computer equipment in labs, classrooms, and offices. Cost: $11.245 million.

What would be the difference in the tax rate if some or all of the propositions passed?

There would be no difference. Regardless of what happens with the three propositions, the total tax rate will remain $1.0046. That total tax rate is made up of a Maintenance and Operations rate of $0.8846 and an Interest & Sinking rate of $0.12. The rate will not go up or down based on what voters decide May 6.
 

Why does the ballot say “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE?”
The Legislature passed a law in 2019 requiring every school bond proposition to include those six words, regardless of whether the tax rate is actually increasing. The law makes no exceptions. While there is nothing Eanes ISD can do about this requirement, it is important for the community to understand that the tax rate will not change as a result of the May 6 vote.
 

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 $0.12 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 $0.36.  This is because Eanes ISD is categorized by the state as a "property wealthy" district.  As a result, currently approximately 65 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. Eanes ISD will send the state more than $120 Million in recapture for the 2022-23 school year. With this payment, the District will have paid more than $1.6 Billion in recapture payments to the state 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?
Eanes ISD will send the state more than $120 Million in recapture for the 2022-23 school year. With this payment, the District will have paid more than $1.6 Billion in recapture payments to the state since 1995.  Currently approximately 65 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.