Brownsville ISD citizens committee presents final facilities report, recommends $350 million bond package to address urgent repairs and upgrades

At a public presentation of the Brownsville ISD Citizens Facility Committee, co-chairs Rusty Brochaux and Henry Lavier presented a final facilities report that recommends a general-purpose bond package of about $350 million to address districtwide capital needs including roofing, HVAC, major campus renovations, bus fleet replacement, a new transportation building, and ongoing technology and safety upgrades.

The committee's finance subcommittee recommended structuring the package so the district's debt tax rate would remain at its current level (the report cites a 24¢ debt tax rate), saying property-value growth makes a $350 million issuance feasible without raising the debt rate. Alex Cepidis, representing the finance subcommittee, said the subcommittee's analysis assumed the $350 million figure and noted the board will still decide whether to call a bond election and how to compose propositions.

The committee presented a prioritized list of projects and price estimates drawn from architect and engineering work and subcommittee assessments. Highlights and near-term priorities in the report include:

- Roofing and HVAC: The final assessment identifies roofing work at 15 elementary campuses, three middle schools and three high schools; HVAC upgrades or replacements at roughly 15 elementary campuses, two middle schools and three high schools. The report gives an estimated cost of about $305,900,000 to address the listed roofing and HVAC items.

- Major campus renovations: The committee gave specific renovation recommendations for several campuses. Canales Elementary's proposed renovation (partial demolition and new classroom wing, cafeteria, gym, corridor, restrooms and parking) is estimated at about $20.6 million. Sharp Elementary's renovation is estimated at approximately $31.4 million. Stell Middle School's proposed renovation (including a 15,000-square-foot classroom wing and administration upgrades) is estimated at about $17.7 million. Pace Early College High School's renovation is estimated at about $22.6 million. The report says all project costs are contingent on start dates and subject to change.

- Transportation: The district currently operates more than 270 buses and will need to replace about 70 buses by 2029; the replacement cost estimate for 70 buses is $11.5 million. The report estimates a new transportation building and warehouse would cost about $29.6 million.

- Technology and energy efficiency: The committee recommended a device-replacement rotation that would replace 50% of student devices each year at an estimated annual cost of about $3 million. The report also lists window replacement, new canopies, and lighting/energy-efficiency upgrades with an estimated subtotal of about $209.8 million for those line items.

- Overall totals and process: Committee members noted that the compiled list of recommended projects exceeds what a single bond would fund; the report says the full set of assessments carries an aggregate estimated cost of roughly $670 million (pricing was obtained for more than 100 of the more than 200 assessed items). The Citizens Facility Committee recommended the board use the assessment as a prioritized starting point and decide the final package and number of propositions.

Committee co-chair Rusty Brochaux framed the work as prioritization under fiscal constraint: "If we only had a dollar to spend and we needed $3 to do it all, where are you gonna spend that dollar?" He emphasized the committee prioritized projects by student urgency and facility condition.

The report also recommends setting aside funds for a new career and technical education (CTE) center (see separate committee discussion of CTE sizing and a $25 million set-aside referenced in the appendix). The finance subcommittee advised presenting one general-purpose proposition for urgent needs and, if the board chooses to pursue a performing arts facility, placing that item on a separate proposition.

Next steps noted in the presentation: the district's board of trustees will review the committee's final list line-by-line at scheduled board meetings (the committee identified February meeting dates in the report) and decide whether to call a May bond election. Committee members warned of legislative and pricing uncertainty and recommended the board consider a reimbursement resolution if projects begin prior to an approved bond.

Quotes and attributions in this report come from the Citizens Facility Committee presentation. The committee thanked the district administration and more than 100 volunteers who participated in subcommittees and site visits to inform the assessment.

Ending: The committee submitted its final report to the board for deliberation; the board is scheduled to review the list and consider whether to place propositions before voters in May.