Now that Humble ISD’s board of trustees has called for a $775 million bond election on May 7, they have new rules to follow.
The proposed bond issue is, in fact, a tax increase.
As a result of new legislation from the last session of the Texas Legislature, specific types of projects must be listed separately on the election ballot, and the bond or bonds must be called a tax increase.
In past bond elections school districts could propose one proposition covering everything a district would like to include, but last session’s legislature now requires districts to break out those projects.
School districts must propose a bond for projects such as school buildings, administrative items and equipment. Other proposals must be listed under a separate bond.
Another new rule from the legislature requires the district to include language calling it a tax increase since, in their view, any bond supported by ad valorem taxes would affect a homeowner’s ad valorem taxes.
Humble ISD’s $775 million bond will be presented to voters on the ballot in two propositions:
Proposition A: $730 million — would be used for construction, acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, expansion, improvement and equipment of school buildings plus purchases of new school buses or retrofitting school buses with safety equipment.
Proposition B: $45 million — would be used for acquisition and upgrading of technology equipment.
Both proposals include the statement now required by the legislature, “This is a property tax increase required statement for all school district bond propositions pursuant to Section 45.003, Texas Education Code.”
The call was approved at the trustee board meeting Feb. 15.
Early voting is April 25-29 and May 2-3, and May 7 is Election Day.
Information about the May 7 election can be found, humbleisd.net/cbac.
