Bond Package 2007
Bond Package 2007
Based upon input provided by the 60 member Citizens’ Bond Committee (CBC), the Pflugerville Independent School District Board of Trustees has called a $125 million bond election for November 6. The Board took this action at its regular business meeting on August 16.
The Board also approved the administration’s recommendation to retire $5 million in bond debt early, saving PISD taxpayers nearly $2 million in interest expenses over the next ten years. Based upon that savings and the assumption that the district’s tax base will continue to increase, PISD plans to fund the proposal without increasing the debt service tax rate.
As noted in a recent article in Forbes magazine, the Pflugerville community is the 23rd fastest growing community in the nation, an important fact noted by the Trustees as they considered the projects included in the bond package. With more than 20,000 enrolled for the 2007-08 school year, PISD is expected to increase by an additional 5,000-6,500 students during the next three years.
The bond package includes the construction of two elementary schools and one middle school; planning for the district’s fourth high school; renovation of existing facilities, including updates to campus security systems; updates to technology, including a replacement schedule, instructional technology and network enhancements; and money to purchase property for future school sites in response to the district’s expected growth in the coming years.
“The Board of Trustees is extremely pleased with the work our citizen bond committee and district leadership accomplished while preparing this bond proposal,” Board of Trustees President Dr. Carol Fletcher said. “The committee provided valuable guidance for the district as we try to address continued growth in the Pflugerville area, while ensuring every student has a safe environment in which to learn.”
The CBC worked throughout the late spring and summer months to study the district’s growth and facilities needs as they worked with district administration to determine which projects to include in the bond package. The PISD Trustees have worked with district administration to finalize the bond proposal during two workshops in August.
Below is a list of the specific categories within the bond package:
| Description | Projected Cost |
|---|---|
New Schools – New buildings to address our district’s growing student population
| $63,600,000 |
New Schools – Planning for our district’s next high school
| $4,000,000 |
Student Instruction – Facility improvements to support teaching and learning
| $18,320,000 |
Student Instruction – Technology improvements to support teaching and learning
| $7,500,000 |
Safety and Security – Renovations to support a safe learning environment
| $3,408,000 |
Building Renovations – Caring for our existing facilities
| $9,889,000 |
Technology Infrastructure – Providing technology support to our growing district
| $5,600,000 |
Future School Sites – Securing land to support our district’s growth
| $8,500,000 |
Contingency and Bond Issuance Costs
| $4,183,000 |
| Grand Total | $125,000,000 |