Tomball ISD trims 2025 bond to $429.9 million, cites construction inflation and no tax-rate increase

Tomball ISD trustees met Feb. 3 and presented a revised Bond 2025 package totaling $429,900,000 that district officials said preserves the district’s current total tax rate while funding prioritized facility repairs and growth needs.

The change trims an earlier, larger proposal so the district can issue debt without raising its total tax rate, Chief Financial Officer Zach Bowles said. "Bond 2025 could support a max bond package of 430,000,000. Any more than that would cause the district to have to increase the tax rate. We are not going to increase the tax rate at 430,000,000," Bowles said.

The revision removes construction of a new elementary school (referred to as "Elementary 13") while keeping land purchase and site development and delays construction of the Tomball West natatorium. Administration said the adjustments — plus modest reductions across several categories — bring the total to just under the district’s $430 million cap.

Why it matters: the board must call an election at its February meeting to place a bond on the May 3 ballot. Administration told trustees the cap is required to avoid a tax-rate increase while meeting internal limits for average debt maturity and the district’s policy of not issuing debt beyond 25 years.…