Questions & Answers

The sale of bonds begins with an election to authorize a specific amount – the maximum the District is allowed to sell.  The school District sells tax exempt municipal bonds to raise money for capital projects such as new schools.  Bids are taken from interested buyers, usually large institutional investors – and are sold at the lowest interest rate offered.  The rate is based on the District’s bond rating – the higher the bond rating, the lower the interest rate to sell the bonds.  Principal and interest on the bonds are repaid over an extended period of time with funds from the debt service tax rate.

The bond proposal was developed with the input from a citizen-based committee representing all areas of the District consisting of parents, local citizens and school staff, who met to study the requirements of the District and prioritize the program. The committee analyzed data including, but not limited to: the long-range facilities plan, safety and security, the long-range technology plan, financial analysis, and other data.

$10.9 million has been designated for safety and security across the District. They include:
• Addition of security stations at main

Entrances of all campuses
• Building access control panels for

Perimeter doors at all campuses
• Upgrade security surveillance camera

Systems at all campuses
• Replace fire/security alarm systems, public address systems, and install exit door panic devices at various campuses

Bonds for school projects are very similar to a mortgage on a home. To finance construction projects school Districts issue bonds which are purchased by investors.  Payout is limited by law to 40 years. Current projections have United I.S.D. bonds being paid off in 25-30 years.

The Board and administration have looked at various alternatives including increasing class sizes in all schools; implementing AM and PM sessions for students; adding portable buildings at schools that can accommodate them; reallocating maintenance and operations budget funds to furnish and equip schools and purchase portables; capping enrollment at campuses and sending students to other schools that have space.

United I.S.D.’s curriculum and technology needs total $22 million. They include:
• District-wide wireless network upgrades
• Network infrastructure upgrades at

Various schools
• District-wide instructional video

Distribution system
• District-wide instructional interactive technology

A decade ago, the enrollment of the District was 30,710 compared to 42,921 for the 2012-2013 school year. This increase of 12,200 students reflects an annual growth of 1,221 students.

The current tax rate is $1.194860 per $100 valuation. However, because of the $15,000 state homestead exemption and 15 percent local homestead exemption, homeowners with a $100,000 house in United I.S.D. pay taxes on a valuation of $70,000.

The schools listed below are scheduled for
renovation or additions at a cost of $30 million. In United I.S.D. major renovations include replacing or upgrading the following systems: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, energy management, fire sprinkler and alarms, and upgrading to current standards.
• Arndt Elementary School – 16 classrooms

will be added and expansion of the

parking area
• Trautmann Elementary School – 16

classrooms will be added as well as the

enclosure of the open area
• Newman Elementary School – expansion

of cafeteria and enclosure of the canopy

to classroom wing
• Clark Middle School – band hall expansion
• Alexander High School – expansion of

band hall, Career and Technology

classrooms, and ROTC center
• Kennedy – Zapata Elementary

School – improvements in parking area
• Gonzalez Middle School – Install

lighting and new sidewalks
• United South High School – Renovate

existing science labs, replace gym floor
• Replacement of Air Conditioning/Energy

Management Systems at Gutierrez,

Juarez – Lincoln, Kazen, Prada, Trautmann

Elementary, Ruiz, Clark Middle, United

9th grade campus, and Brantley Hall
• Expansion of food storage area at

United I.S.D. Food Production Center

United I.S.D. has included a total of $341.6 million in the 2013 bond package to construct 14 new schools which include the following:
• Cielito Lindo Elementary School in the

L.B. Johnson High School feeder pattern
• State Hwy. 359 Elementary School in the

United South High School feeder pattern
• Cuatro Vientos North Elementary School

in the United South High School feeder

pattern
• San Isidro Elementary School in the

United High School feeder pattern
• Coves Winfield Elementary School in the

Alexander High School feeder pattern
• Replacement school for Salinas Elementary
• Replacement school for Clark Elementary
• Cuatro Vientos South Middle School in

the Lyndon B. Johnson High School

feeder pattern
• State Hwy. 359 Middle School in the

United South High School feeder pattern
• Mines Road Middle School in the

United High School feeder pattern
• Lyndon B. Johnson High School Ninth

Grade Campus
• United South High School Ninth

Grade Campus
• Alexander High School Ninth

Grade Campus
• United High School Ninth Grade Campus

The technology funds will be used to accommodate new students and staff, replace aging technology, and increase access to technology.

The District must maintain 44 campuses and other District facilities. Major maintenance items for these campuses and other District facilities such as carpets, roofs, and HVAC systems, can cost the District millions of dollars. Spreading the costs over time, while not exceeding the life of the assets, has enabled the District, historically, to complete the work without significantly impacting the tax rate.

Enrollment projections for the next five years indicate that United High School’s student enrollment will be at 4,380. United High School has capacity for this enrollment. In addition, United High School does not have any portable classrooms or teachers who float into classes. These alternatives can still be accommodated at United High School. Furthermore, our planning department has looked at the feasibility of constructing a high school on Mines Road and has determined that the student enrollment preliminarily projected to attend this new school would be small. Projections indicate that a high school can be supported within the next 8 years.

Bonds that are sold do not affect teacher salaries. By law, bond money can only be used for new facility construction, facility renovation, technology and major capital improvements.

Not necessarily. The Texas Constitution, Article VIII, Section 1-d, provides for persons 65 years of age or older, who have a homestead exemption, to be exempt from tax rate increases unless new improvements are made to the home.