Frisco ISD voters on Tuesday rejected more than $1 billion in school bonds as the district looks to renovate its campus and purchase new equipment.
The package’s largest deposit was Prop. B’s $986 million, which would go toward new buses, safety and security upgrades, and renovations to 20 aging schools. The district has experienced rapid expansion over the years, but growth has slowed in recent years.
Proposition B was rejected by 52% of voters, according to unofficial results. This was one of three bond offers totaling approximately $1.1 billion. Voters rejected all items.
The district’s Proposition C would cost $88 million and fund new computers and online infrastructure upgrades. More than 52% of voters opposed it.
Proposition D was rejected with 73.1% of voters opposed. The cost of building a new $11.2 million tennis center has now been paid.
Proposition A was the Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE). That would have helped offset some of Frisco ISD’s $30 million budget deficit, which the district used to pay for teacher raises. Once enacted, VATRE would increase the maintenance tax rate to 2.94 cents per $100 of assessed property value, increasing the tax bill on the average Frisco ISD home by $158 per year.
Proposition A was rejected by 57.5% of voters.
Frisco last issued floating bonds in 2018, when voters approved a package worth more than $690 million to build four new schools and repair other facilities.
Frisco was one of several districts in North Texas that proposed bond packages this election.
In Allen ISD, voters approved two of the district’s $447.4 million bond proposals but rejected the third.
At $419 million, Proposition A was the largest of the three proposals. It passed with 56.1% of the vote, according to unofficial results.
It will fund improvements to aging buildings, multipurpose facility fees, new bus additions, district-wide internet and Wi-Fi improvements, and campus security upgrades.
Proposition C, costing $23.1 million, also passed with 53.4% of the vote. Technology can be purchased, replaced, and updated just like individual computers.
Proposition B, which would have cost $5.4 million to repair the stadium, failed with 51.8% of the votes cast.
East of Dallas, voters in the growing Sunnyvale ISD approved three bond proposals totaling $94.9 million.
The bond will pay for building upgrades and repairs, parking and traffic control, and safety and security equipment. The district also received funding to build a new activity center and pay for storm and track repairs. Each of the three proposals passed with more than 65% of the vote, according to unofficial totals.
In Highland Park, 68.3% of voters approved a $137 million bond proposal. Funds new buses, new construction, land acquisition, renovations, building improvements, and school safety and security equipment.
Meanwhile, Birdville ISD voters rejected a $48 million bond to pay for the district’s multi-purpose indoor practice field. The proposal was rejected by 62.7% of voters.
Both Grapevine-Colleyville and Celina ISDs have passed voter-approved tax rates to offset deficits and spending increases while the districts are still awaiting new legislative funding, with tax rates increasing in 2019. It hasn’t changed since.
Voters in Northwest and Coppell ISDs rejected VATRE in their districts.
Bill Zeeble is KERA’s education reporter. Any tips? Email your invoice to bzeeble@kera.org. You can follow him at X @bzeeble.
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