BELLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Evelyn Flowers
5 years ago
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$the Future \\\ Bond$

1 May 5, BOND ELECTION Strong Schools BELLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Strong Community Committed to the Future \\\ Bond Election Information

May 5, 2018 Bond to Improve Bells High School Committed to the Future On February 12, 2018, the Bells Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call a bond election to be

2 May 5, 2018 Bond to Improve Bells High School Committed to the Future On February 12, 2018, the Bells Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously to call a bond election to be held on May 5, 2018, for an amount not to exceed $8 million. This election will allow registered voters in the community to decide on a construction/renovation plan at the high school campus. The plan was developed and recommended to the Board of Trustees by a Bond Committee comprised of parents, staff, students, administrators, and community members. The Committee spent significant time studying current facility needs and the growth pattern of the past five years, analyzing facilities in use, reviewing reports from BISD s financial advisor and architects, analyzing the past ten years of property values, and reviewing the minimal financial impact on BISD s taxpayers. The State of Texas currently pays approximately 25% of Bells ISD s existing bond payments. With a successful bond election, the District is eligible for the State of Texas to pay in excess of 25% of the annual principal and interest payments for the new bonds as well. HOW WILL CURRENT FUND BALANCES BE UTILIZED? Present and past Bells ISD Board of Trustees have been good stewards of revenue attained by the District. Present District bond obligations include bond payments for the construction of the elementary school in 1999 and the 2009 construction of the band hall, gym, and track, and the additional classrooms and remodel at the junior high building. The elementary school bonds are on schedule to be retired in August 2024; however, with passage of the 2018 bond, the District may retire the elementary bonds this summer, keeping the tax rate increase to a minimum (2 to 3 cents) while providing much needed renovation and additional classrooms to the high school. In addition, the Board has managed in recent years to commit approximately $1.2 million in a construction fund while planning for high school renovations and addition. Plans are to combine approximately $800,000 of this fund balance with bond revenue for construction of an innovative, student-centered facility.

3 HOW WILL THE BOND MONEY BE USED? SAFETY AND SECURITY enhance safety features with additional cameras and secured entrances enlarge kitchen area and update equipment INNOVATIVE, STATE-OF-THE-ART LEARNING SPACES expand commons area to address overcrowding add two state of the art science labs repurpose current science labs for classrooms; add new classrooms construct a 40 seat classroom for early college dual enrollment classes modernize the library with new technology/media spaces and flexible grouping stations for student collaboration provide cutting-edge technology and improve infrastructure LEARNING BEYOND THE CORE CLASSES CAREER TECH AND ATHLETICS expand working area in agriculture shop to give more space for welding students to earn CTE certifications provide improved baseball and softball playing fields for school and community construct needed restroom facilities at athletic facility HOW WILL THE BOND ELECTION AFFECT MY BELLS ISD TAXES? Bells ISD s property tax rate has remained constant since August Property tax rates are divided into two parts, the maintenance and operations, which pays for daily operations of the district, and interest and sinking, which pays bond indebtedness. The rate for BISD has been $1.48 per $100 of property value since 2007; this includes $1.17 maintenance and operation and.31 cents interest and sinking. If the bond election passes on May 5, 2018, with current values and enrollment, the tax rate would increase a maximum of 3 cents per $100 value. If property values continue to increase consistently with the past two years, the increase would be 2 cents or less.

Projected Cost to Homeowner for a 2 cent Increase for Voted Bonds Home Value Before Home Value After $25,000 State Projected Annual Tax Increase Projected Monthly Tax Increase $50,000 $25,000 $5.

4 Projected Cost to Homeowner for a 2 cent Increase for Voted Bonds Home Value Before Home Value After $25,000 State Projected Annual Tax Increase Projected Monthly Tax Increase $50,000 $25,000 $5.00 $0.42 $100,000 $75,000 $15.00 $1.25 $150,000 $125,000 $25.00 $2.08 $200,000 $175,000 $35.00 $2.92 $250,000 $225,000 $45.00 $3.75 Projected Cost to Homeowner for a 3 cent Increase for Voted Bonds Home Value Before Home Value After $25,000 State Projected Annual Tax Increase Projected Monthly Tax Increase $50,000 $25,000 $8.25 $0.69 $100,000 $75,000 $24.75 $2.06 $150,000 $125,000 $41.25 $3.44 $200,000 $175,000 $57.75 $4.81 $250,000 $225,000 $74.25 $6.19 Even with a maximum 3 cent increase, Bells ISD s tax rate would still be lower than seven other Grayson County schools. Information and applications for VOTING BY MAIL for all residents of the District shall be mailed to the address below and received (not postmarked) by April 24, Send by Mail or Personal Delivery: Deana Patterson Grayson County Elections Administration 115 West Houston Street Sherman, Texas Fax: votegrayson@co.grayson.tx.us

5 BELLS ISD 2018 BOND ELECTION Become informed about the Bond and remember to vote! WILL FROZEN TAXES BE AFFECTED? NO Taxpayers 65 years of age and older who have applied for and received the Age 65 Freeze on their homestead will not pay any amount of school taxes on their homes above their frozen level even with a successful bond election. It will not cost them one cent more. HOW WILL THE BALLOT READ? FOR or AGAINST THE ISSUANCE OF $8,000,000 OF BONDS BY THE BELLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LEVYING THE TAX IN PAYMENT THEREOF. WHERE AND WHEN TO VOTE? Any registered voter whose primary residence is within the boundaries of Bells ISD is eligible to vote. EARLY VOTING April 23, May 1, 2018 April 30 and May 1, :00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 203 S. Broadway 203 S. Broadway Bells, Texas Bells, Texas ELECTION DAY VOTING Saturday, May 5, :00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 203 S. Broadway Bells, Texas 75414

Freedom Area School District Community Survey Results. Fall 2018

Freedom Area School District Community Survey Results Fall 2018 Survey Summary The survey was conducted in late October/early November of 2018. Residents within the District were mailed a paper survey.