Dallas ISD leaders will hold a press conference Thursday morning to detail a proposed $6.2 billion bond package heading to voters on the May 2 ballot. It’s a measure that would become the largest school bond request in Texas history.

The district plans to highlight how previous voter‑approved bonds in 2015 and 2020 helped reduce the number of failing campuses and expand high‑quality learning environments. Progress leaders say the new bond would continue.

According to the district, earlier investments cut the student performance gap with the state by 50%, reduced the number of F‑rated schools from 24 to two, and doubled the number of A‑rated campuses.

Trustees unanimously advanced the measure in February, sending four separate propositions to voters. The largest portion, Proposition A, accounts for nearly $6 billion and would fund 26 new replacement schools, district‑wide modernization renovations at all campuses, and the removal of 700 remaining portable classrooms used by nearly 10,000 students.

The bond would also modernize safety systems, update school furniture, expand physical education and athletic facilities, repair aging swimming pools and natatoriums, and purchase new school buses.

Proposition B allocates about $145 million for technology upgrades, including student devices and classroom displays. Proposition C would allow the district to refinance $143 million in existing debt, freeing funds for classroom operations. Proposition D earmarks $26 million for swimming pool renovations across the district.

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If approved, the bond would result in a 1‑cent property tax rate increase, or roughly $2.79 per month for the average Dallas homeowner with a property valued around $500,000 after exemptions. District officials note the increase would not affect homeowners 65 and older who have filed for the senior exemption, unless significant improvements are made to their property.

Even with the increase, Dallas ISD would continue to have the lowest tax rate among the 10 largest North Texas school districts, according to the district.

The proposal follows more than 65 public meetings held by the Citizens Bond Steering Committee over the past year, which helped shape the district’s long‑range facilities plan.

District leaders said improvements are needed as the average school building approaches aging infrastructure benchmarks. Proposition A alone aims to lower the average age of district facilities from 43 years to approximately 33 years, well below the national average of 49.

At recent board meetings, parents, educators, and advocates voiced strong support for eliminating portable classrooms and improving learning environments. Many pointed to safety, modernization, and equity across campuses as reasons to back the measure.

Dallas ISD’s previous 2020 bond program – which is still underway – funded 15 new replacement schools, six new facilities, and four career institutes, while creating an estimated 64,000 jobs and upgrading more than 200 campuses, according to the district.

Voters will decide on all four propositions during the May 2 election, with early voting beginning April 20 and running through April 28.

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.