On Monday night, the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees voted to lower the district’s property tax rate from $1.46 to $1.44 and simultaneously called a Bond Election and Tax Ratification Election for November 6. Approval of both measures would serve to accommodate district growth, address aging facilities, and shift resources from debt service to operational support of the classroom. Taxpayers will see a 2-cent reduction in the tax rate regardless of election outcome.
“We continue to add over 2,000 students per year and remain the fastest growing school district in the state of Texas,” Board of Trustees President John Classe said. “In the next six years, 18 of our schools will reach their 20th year of service and 6 will be 25 years old. In part, these proposals are meant to address the need for new facilities to accommodate growth and to allow us to provide facility upgrades to aging campuses in order to maintain parity for our students across the district.”
In addition to building and renovating schools, the proposals fund upgrades for students participating in fine arts and athletics, enhancements to student safety, technology upgrades to maintain a modern learning environment, and the recruitment, retention and support of high quality employees.
“The two ballot propositions go hand-in-hand,” Board of Trustees Vice-President Chad Rudy said. “Residents continue to vote with their pocketbooks by choosing Frisco ISD as the place to raise their children. The bond proposition funds facilities for students. The tax swap puts money in the classroom — giving us the operational funds necessary to run student programs. Fortunately, through several years of work with our community, we are in a position to take these initiatives to voters and simultaneously lower the tax rate.”
For two years, community-based committees have worked alongside the board of trustees to study district operations. In 2016, the Priorities-Based Budget committee was charged with assuring district spending aligned with community priorities. In 2017, the Long-Range Planning Committee studied the smaller-school model relative to alternatives and reaffirmed the Frisco ISD commitment to student opportunity through smaller, comprehensive high schools. Incorporating the work of the prior committees, the 2018 Facilities and Programs Evaluation Committee developed a set of recommendations which the board of trustees have now placed before voters in November. Detail of each committee’s work can be found at the links above.
“Frisco ISD has frequently ranked as one of the highest achieving school districts in the state for academic progress and is commended for conservative spending per student,” Classe said. “These propositions give the community another opportunity to weigh-in.”
Additional information on both ballot propositions is available at https://www.friscoisd.org/bond-tre. Information sessions will be provided at several locations and online before Election Day, and residents are always encouraged to contact their representatives with questions.
Early voting is from October 22nd through November 2nd. Election Day is Tuesday, November 6th.