The New Braunfels Independent School District school board will wait to vote on whether to call a May 8 bond election until after the Facilities Planning Committee meets this Thursday.
The NBISD school board is considering a bond that would pay for various improvements and new campuses in the district.
Some board members were concerned about the political implications of holding a bond election in May, given that four seats on the school board are up for re-election and a vote on the Comal County Justice Center scheduled for that month might have a negative impact on the bond.
“I’m in favor of taking care of this vote in May. It may bring some more negative votes,” said board member Ed Clark, adding that New Braunfels voters have never turned down a school bond.
The trustees opted to wait until the Facilities Planning Committee — the committee that drafted and submitted a set of proposals on how and when to build new schools to meet the demand of a growing student body — submits a recommendation to the board on how to proceed with the pursuit of a bond.
The Facilities Planning Committee recommendation will weight the school board’s decisions on whether a May 8 bond election is called, or if it is put off until later in the year, most likely November.
“It was really clear to me that (a school bond election consultant, Scott Milder from Cambridge Strategic Services, that advised the board at last Thursday’s meeting) thought we would have a much greater chance of success to go for November,” said board member James Bettersworth.
The bond has been projected to be about $55 million over 25 years, according to financial impact projections from SAMCO Capital Markets. A $55 million bond at 25 years out might increase no more than two cents on the I&S (investment and sinking) portion of the tax rate, currently set at $0.32580 per $100 of assessable value on a residence or property.
The remainder of the district’s tax rate, the M&O (maintenance and operations) rate is set at $1.01330 per $100 of property valuation, putting the total current rate at $1.33910.
“People on the other side of I-35 are very anxious to have a new middle school,” said trustee Mae Ruth Meyer.
The school board will meet again for its regular meeting Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. where it will again consider the issue.
The deadline for the board to file a bond election is March 8.
If the Facilities Planning Committee requests more time after the Feb. 22 meeting to review the changes to its proposal, another special meeting could be called before March 8 to consider whether to call a bond election.
