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The May 4 General Election rapidly approaches with several seats up for grabs and two significant Elgin Independent School District bond propositions that representatives assure will not come with a tax rate increase for residents.
In response to student enrollment numbers rapidly trending upwards, Elgin ISD’s proposed $375 million bond will better situate the district to address capacity concerns while maintaining its high standard of education, according to Superintendent of Schools Jana Rueter.
“As we plan for the future of Elgin ISD, it is important that we are prepared to continue providing high-quality instruction to our growing student population while increasing the educational opportunities we offer,” said Rueter in a public address. “Therefore, as a school district, we must proactively assess how we serve our students and families both presently, and in the years to come.”
All of this comes with no tax rate increase for the taxpayers of Elgin, thanks to “an incredible, and fiscally responsible finance team at Elgin ISD,” according to district representatives.
Elgin ISD’s overall tax rate has decreased by over 31 cents since 2019, and the district holds the highest school district financial rating given by the state of Texas.
The bond’s primary focus is to manage growth with the introduction of new campuses, expansions, facilities and upgrades, according to the School Board.
“Our school district is confronted with the challenge of ensuring that every new student has a seat in a safe and effective learning environment. The strength of a community lies in its infrastructure and our schools are a vital piece of the equation,” added Rueter.
Proposition A will continue the momentum of accommodation set by the voter-approved 2021 Bond. It includes funding for a new elementary school, middle school and a capacity increase for Elgin High School, in addition to projects prioritizing the safety and security of students and staff. The bond will also address necessary maintenance and facility upgrades across all Elgin ISD campuses and provide for phase two of the district’s new transportation building, including new buses.
Elgin ISD’s sports programs will also see attention with Proposition B and upgrades to facilities for softball, baseball and tennis programs.
The second and smaller of the two propositions focuses on Wildcat Stadium, its press box and potential for future programs.
“Prop B is a unique opportunity to use the necessary renovation of our press box to create an innovative dual-purpose space. This renovated press box will take a space that is currently empty during the school day and transform it into an engaging learning space for kids who are in career and technical and audio/visual programs,” said the superintendent.
“Thanks to the generosity of our voters, we are actively constructing projects that were approved in November 2021; and due to the growth of the district’s tax base, Elgin ISD has the capacity to go out for another bond to meet our student growth and capital project needs without increasing our tax rate,” according to Chief Financial Officer Jeffri Orosco.
Elgin ISD can achieve this due to the growth in the district’s tax base and the responsible management of taxpayer resources over the last several years, Rueter said.
“While we can’t control the number of people moving to Elgin, we can control the quality of the education they receive. As taxpayers, and voters, we have been gifted the responsibility of overseeing our schools’ future. We are lucky to have an amazing team of teachers, counselors, administrators and more leading our children,” the superintendent added.
Early voting for the May 4 General Election will last through April 30, more information on Elgin ISD’s 2024 Bond can be found at https:// www.elginisdbond. org.
