Brownsville ISD bond proposal tied 3-3 and fails after divided board, strong public pleas for repairs

Brownsville Independent School District trustees on Feb. 13 considered a motion to call a bond election that would have asked voters to approve up to $350 million for campus renovations, career and technical education, and a performing arts center — but the measure failed on a 3-3 tie.

Supporters, including teachers’ union leaders and a citizens facilities committee, urged trustees to let voters decide and emphasized urgent repairs to roofs, HVAC systems and accessibility upgrades. Opponents and some trustees said the district lacked a clear long-range plan and questioned funding and tax impacts.

The motion, made by Trustee Jessica Gonzalez, sought to “call a bond election for priority items 1 through 42 to also include a performing arts center for a total not to exceed $350,000,000 at no tax increase to the taxpayers.” Board members debated the proposal after five members of the public and several trustees spoke for and against the measure.

Why it matters: The bond would have funded a mix of districtwide facility repairs and new construction. District staff described an allocation that included $25 million set aside for a CTE center, roughly $283 million for roofing and HVAC work, and about $61.8 million for a performing arts center — totaling about $350 million. Supporters argued those repairs address health and safety issues, while skeptics warned of unclear funding sources, possible tax consequences and items already repaired being included on the list.

Public comments were almost uniformly in favor of placing the bond before voters. Kathy Prezas Garcia, who identified herself as a Brownsville realtor, told the board the district had “no direction” and urged trustees to address student retention before asking taxpayers for new bonds. Beatriz Maldonado, vice president of BEST AFT Local 3877, said, “Best AFT supports the citizens facilities committee’s recommendations to focus on the renovation of campuses,” and added that the majority of bond funds should go to roofs, HVACs and ADA accessibility rather than nonessential items. Adina Alegria, executive director of the Texas Valley Educators Association, said the bond is an “investment in our children” that would protect buildings and improve air quality.

Trustees’ debate focused on three themes: the scope and prioritization of the list, whether previous funding (including ESSER dollars) had already addressed some needs, and the claim — made by the motion — that the bond could be passed with “no tax increase.” Trustees who opposed the motion demanded clearer accounting of district funds and a long-range facilities plan before asking voters to approve such a large package. One trustee noted that about $38 million of ESSER funds had been used on targeted repairs but said ESSER had not funded entire HVAC replacements at campuses.

District staff explained that the committee’s option (referred to as “option 3”) bundles line items 1 through 42 from prior meetings and that the list was developed after multiple facility inspections by external firms and the maintenance department. Staff said some ESSER-funded work had replaced components (air handlers or condensing units) but had not paid for full-system replacements at some campuses.

After the board discussion, the roll-call result recorded in the meeting was a 3-3 tie and the motion failed. The transcript records the motion outcome as “3 3” (tie). The board did not adopt an alternate plan at the meeting; trustees thanked the citizens committee for its work and adjourned at approximately 6:17 p.m.

What’s next: With the motion failed, the district has not scheduled a bond election as a result of this meeting. Trustees and staff referenced prior and ongoing work on facilities assessments and said the issue may return for further study and another vote after additional accounting and planning.