Bond
1. WHY IS WYLIE ISD CALLING A BOND ELECTION?
Wylie ISD has grown by over 1,000 students in the last five years and is considered a ‘Fast Growth School District’ by the Fast Growth School Coalition in Texas. Demographic reports project the district will grow to more than 7700 students in the next eight years.
The Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $269 million bond referendum to address the need for expanded classroom space and overcrowding issues at the high school and elementary levels as well as upgrades to aging facilities, safety and security, transportation and technology.
Proposed bond projects will add more classrooms to accommodate growth and relieve current overcrowding issues as well as update our current again facilities.
2. WHAT IS A BOND?
A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. All school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.
3. HOW CAN BOND FUNDS BE USED?
Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.
4. WHAT IS A BOND ELECTION?
School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as renovation to existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the District to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home.
5. EXACTLY HOW MUCH IS THE PROPOSED BOND PACKAGE?
The Board of Trustees called a bond election in the amount of $269 million. The proposal will benefit every student in Wylie ISD.
6. HOW WAS THE BOND PACKAGE DEVELOPED?
The Wylie Board of Trustees created the Wylie Growth and Planning Committee in August 2022. The Wylie Growth and Planning Committee included 25 community members drawn from across the district including parents, community members and business leaders. The primary task of the WGPC was to develop a long-term master facilities plan that included a recommendation to the school board for implementation. They spent 5 months meeting to discuss, research and develop long term plans for WISD. Their findings were presented to the WISD Board.
7. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE WYLIE ISD 2023 BOND PROPOSAL?
Visit our Propositions Page to read more about what is included in the Bond
8. WHEN WERE PREVIOUS BONDS PASSED AT WYLIE ISD?
Since 1992, Wylie ISD has passed three bond elections:
1992-$11 million to build the current Wylie High School
2015-$15 million to build the Performing Arts Center and classroom additions/cafeteria expansion at Wylie High School.
2017-$45 million to construct the East Junior High and Expansion (Phase 2) of East Elementary
9. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DURING A BOND ELECTION?
The school district is responsible for sharing with voters information about the proposed bond package so the community can make an informed decision at the polls.
10. CAN WYLIE ISD EMPLOYEES ATTEND BOND RALLIES OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHEDULED WORK DAY?
Yes, this is a permissible way for employees to express their personal support or opposition to the bond.
11. CAN WYLIE ISD EMPLOYEES ENDORSE THE BOND OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCHEDULED WORK DAY?
Yes, District employees may endorse or oppose the bond outside of their scheduled work day.
GROWTH
1. HOW FAST IS WYLIE ISD GROWING?
Wylie ISD is considered a fast-growth district and has grown by over 1,000 students in the past five years and is projected to grow by an additional 1,700 students in the next five years. Demographic reports project the district will grow to more than 7,700 students in the next eight years.
TAXES
1. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN M&O AND I&S TAX RATES?
Tax payers pay a combined tax rate to Wylie ISD that supports two different funds. The maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate funds the general operations of the District. This is like the part of a household budget that pays for utilities, food, clothing and gasoline. As schools are a people-intensive business, about 80 percent of these funds go to salary and personnel costs.
The interest and sinking tax rate (I&S), often called the debt service tax rate, funds the debt generated by the issuance of schoolhouse bonds. This is like the part of a household budget that pays for the home mortgage, the car loan or a financed expenditure for a computer or other large item. Wylie ISD must seek the approval of voters to authorize the issuance of bonds. Although voter approve the entire program, the bonds are only issued as school projects are needed rather than all at one. Most bonds are issued for 30 years, but the principal amount issued for short term assets, such as technology, are paid off more quickly.
2. WHY DOES THE BALLOT SAY “THIS IS A TAX INCREASE”
Ballot language will include the statement “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” Legislation passed in the 2019 Texas Legislative Session requires that school districts include this language, regardless of the bond’s impact on the district’s tax rate.
3. WHAT IF I’M OVER 65 AND RECEIVE THE “OVER 65 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION” AND MY HOME VALUE GOES UP? WILL MY SCHOOL TAXES INCREASE?
NO. The State Property Tax Code allows for school property taxes on an individual homestead to be “frozen” at the age of 65. If you are 65 years of age or older and you have filed for the “Over 65 Homestead Exemption”, there is a ceiling on the amount of school taxes to be paid. The only exception is if improvements are made to a home. As such, a tax increase from a new bond program cannot increase the applicable tax ceiling of a taxpayer that has qualified for the “over 65 Homestead Exemption.” More information available at https://www.taylor-cad.org/
VOTING
1. WHEN IS THE WYLIE ISD BOND ELECTION?
The bond election has been called for Tuesday, November 7, 2023. Early voting is Monday, October 23 through Friday, November 3, 2023. Taxpayers my vote during the following times:
For voting locations, please refer to our website at wylieisdbond2023.org
2. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?
Any registered voter who lives within Wylie ISD boundaries-and whose voter registration is based on their current WISD residence-is eligible to vote in this bond election.
3. CAN I STILL REGISTER TO VOTE IN TIME FOR THIS ELECTION?
The deadline to apply for a voter registration is October 10th in order to vote in the November 7, 2023 election.
4. HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM REGISTERED?
Visit this website to check your registration status.