Hilltop modeling shows bond capacity; trustees favor smaller near‑term package and call for capital‑needs steering committee

Hilltop Securities presented financial modeling to the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees on April 17 that sketches how various bond packages would affect the district's debt burden, tax rate and rating metrics.

George from Hilltop walked trustees through conservative taxable‑value growth assumptions (5% for two years then lower growth in later years) and two scenarios: an initial authorization of $300 million (or $350 million in an alternative) issued across 2026–2028, followed by a larger authorization in a later cycle (modeled as $650–$750 million issued across four years). Under Hilltop's models the district could maintain the district's 29.07¢ I&S tax rate while issuing an initial $300–$350 million, assuming the modeled taxable‑value growth; larger subsequent authorizations would require…