Early election returns show that voters in the East Central Independent School District are likely to reject a handful of bond issues and a tax increase, potentially dashing plans for rapid expansion district leaders say is needed to keep up with population growth.
The district’s 11,176 student enrollment is expected to grow to 25,617 by 2033, according to district officials.
The bond issues, if passed, would bolster growth that has already been happening in the district, according to East Central ISD.
The bond election comes at a pivotal moment for school districts across the state, with Gov. Greg Abbott signaling at a recent campaign stop for Marc LaHood that local taxing powers could be limited or eliminated as part of his agenda to lower or eliminate property taxes next session. LaHood is running for state representative in House District 121.
“In addition to passing that property tax cut, we’re going to do this year what we did not do last year,” he said. “We’ve got to close the loophole that allows these taxing entities to be able to go back behind our back and raise those property taxes.”
Here’s how the propositions are faring with early results reporting:
Proposition A
With over 21,000 early votes reported and 150 out of 302 voter centers reporting results, 47% of voters are in support of proposition A, while 53% are opposed.
The proposition is a tax increase for homeowners within the district of five cents for every $100 of property value, unlocking an additional $6,600,000 for the district to use.
In explainers sent to parents before the election, the district said the funds would be used to make teacher pay more competitive and to fund armed security officers at each campus to comply with a new state law.
If passed, every homeowner in the district’s taxbase would be affected by the property tax increase, not just those with children at the schools.
East Central noted in a letter to parents that it is the area’s largest employer and committed to raising pay for 1,700 staff members with the funds. It also notes that it has among the lowest tax rates among other San Antonio area districts, which has limited the district’s ability to give raises.
Other funding would be used for security upgrades like cameras, perimeter fencing, bullet-resistant film, mental health first aid training, campus radios, PA system upgrades, AEDs, Stop the Bleed kits and Epinephrine Pens.
Proposition B
With around 21,500 early votes, and 150 out of 302 voter centers reporting results, 44% of voters are in support of proposition B, while 56% are opposed.
The $331,143,000 bond would fund the construction of three new schools and renovations across the district to relieve enrollment pressure and fix older buildings.
The district is anticipating adding an additional 14,000 students in the next 8 years.
Officials say a planned 396,000 sq. foot high school facility would have a total student capacity of 2,200 and a useful lifespan of 50 years.
Current facilities are cramped to the point that “we are on top of each other with everything we do; department to department, class to class,” according to Warren Mize, the Director of Patterson Performing Arts.
The bond funds would also be used to construct two new elementary schools to “relieve enrollment pressure in the northern and southern portions of the district.”
Each elementary school would be a 98,000-sq. foot facility that could house up to 900 students and will have a 50-year lifespan, according to the district.
Other funds would go toward high school facilities like converting the old practice gym into a new, second PE gym and renovating and adding to the Agriscience facility at the high school.
Proposition C
With around 21,500 early votes, and 150 out of 302 voter centers reporting results, nearly 43% of voters are in support of proposition C, while 57% are opposed.
The $10,000,000 proposal would be used to renovate sports facilities that have grown out of date over the years and become inaccessible and, in some cases, dangerous, according to the district.
Hornet Stadium, which was last renovated in 1982, would be upgraded to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act using the funds.
Proposition D
With 21,500 early votes being reported, and 150 out of 302 voter centers reporting results, 43% of voters are in support of proposition D, while 57% are opposed.
The $18,857,000 in funding would have been used to repair and replace other sports facilities that have fallen into disrepair including the high school’s tennis and baseball facilities.
Planned baseball field renovations included installing turf to resolve drainage areas of the natural grass, new lighting, fan restrooms, increased seating and upgraded ADA accessibility.
Other bond projects in Prop D included replacing cracked, deteriorating and unsafe tennis courts with new facilities, adding LED lighting and relocating and renovating the softball field.
Board Trustee, Place 4
Only one of the places on the district’s school board was contested this year, with long-serving board member Victor Garza facing a pair of challengers, who both were leading in early votes.
In the lead was David Santos Jr., a sales specialist for Midwest Filtration, who had 41% of the nearly 2,000 votes cast. Just behind him with 37% of the vote was Sayda Mitchell-Morales, the senior manager of community development and advocacy for KIPP Texas Public Schools, a charter school network.
With only 21% of the vote in early voting, it appears Garza has been unseated.
