The Arlington Independent School District is asking voters to approve a half-billion-dollar bond package in May to modernize and replace school facilities and to improve technology, telecommunications, and athletics programs.
On Feb. 5, the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees unanimously called for a bond election be held on Saturday, May 2.
The district said the bond package is based on recommendations from a community-led Capital Needs Steering Committee that spent several months reviewing district facilities, programs and enrollment trends.
The bond proposal includes three propositions, A-C. Each proposition has a different budget and targets different areas of need in the school district. Voters can approve or disapprove of any or all of the propositions.
Arlington ISD bond Proposition A
Total: $438,755,000
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and life safety improvements
Modernization of the existing school facilities
Additions and renovations to schools
Replacement of South Davis Elementary School, plus another new replacement elementary school
Capital improvements
Academic equipment and program improvements, including fine arts and special education
Safety and security upgrades
Transportation improvements
Arlington ISD bond Proposition B
Total: $30,955,000
Technology improvements
Student and staff devices
Cybersecurity modernization
Telecommunications and infrastructure improvements
Arlington ISD bond Proposition C
Total: $31,565,000
Athletic improvements for secondary schools
Synthetic turf and athletic equipment installation, replacement, and upgrades
HOW ARE TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FUNDED?
Texas school districts are funded by three sources: Federal money, state money and local taxes. Local taxes comprise two tax rates, Maintenance and Operations (M&O) and Interest and Sinking (I&S), set by the school board. M&O is the money used to pay for the day-to-day operations of a school district, including salaries and professional development, utilities, curriculum, building maintenance, and student services. I&S is the money generated from bonds to pay for new buildings, renovations, security, buses and other large expenses. The I&S tax rate is used to repay the bonds. Funding approved for M&O and I&S projects can’t be mixed.
HOW CAN BOND MONEY BE SPENT?
Bond money can only be spent on capital projects like new buildings, renovations, security upgrades, land acquisition, and other non-recurring costs. It can’t be spent on salaries, staff, utilities, fuel, or other recurring costs. The money repaid from a bond will include interest over time, generally 30 years. Many districts try to repay their bonds early to save on the interest obligation.
WHAT IS A VATRE?
VATRE stands for Voter Approval Tax Rate Elections. If a district needs to increase funding for salaries, daily operating expenses, or other recurring costs, then they have to ask voters to approve of an increase of the M&O Voter Approved Tax Rate (VATR). Many districts hold VATREs to increase M&O funding because they have a deficit. Prior to the 2025 legislative session, state legislators went six years without increasing funding for schools, and with inflation and the addition of unfunded mandates, such as adding an armed officer on each campus, many school districts say they are strapped for cash.
‘THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE’
A state law requires Texas school districts to include the statement, “This is a property tax increase,” on every ballot proposition. That is true even if the proposition does not increase the tax rate. In their proposals, many Texas school districts say they can issue bonds without increasing the I&S rate. This is often done by taking on new bond debt as old, declining debt is paid off. Read the district’s proposal thoroughly to understand whether voting for the bond package will result in a tax rate change. Even without an increase in the tax rate, changes in property tax appraisals could result in a larger tax bill for the property owner.