McAllen ISD presents $335 million pre‑bond plan and tax‑rate strategy; trustees discuss ballot language and tax assumptions
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Summary
District staff proposed a $335 million bond package to fund CTE expansions, cafeteria modernizations, facility upgrades and other projects, and financial advisers described a tax‑rate management strategy intended to keep the district’s total tax rate near the current level while phasing bond issuance over several years.
McAllen ISD administrators and outside counsel presented a proposed $335,000,000 bond package and explained legal and financial steps for a possible May bond election.
Deputy Superintendent Lorena Garcia walked trustees through proposed project categories including CTE expansions (~$39,490,000), cafeteria modernizations (~$33,050,000), elementary gym enclosures (~$26,920,000), fine arts modernizations (~$35,000,000), classroom additions (~$38,730,000) and a campus refresh program (~$45,150,000), plus a large maintenance projects bundle (~$103,190,000). Garcia said the district is considering a $335 million proposition and that the board could be asked to call the order at the Feb. 10 meeting to proceed toward a May 2 election.
Bond counsel from Norton Rose Fulbright explained mandatory ballot language changes and the statutory requirement to include a property‑tax increase statement at the top of the ballot. He also confirmed the order’s language was drafted to allow reasonable flexibility in using bond proceeds for general school facility projects.
Financial advisers and district consultants described the tax‑rate management strategy that relies on managing M&O (maintenance & operations) and I&S (interest & sinking) balances to keep the total tax rate near the current roughly $0.9322 per $100 of assessed value, noting that a conservative growth projection for taxable values underlies the calculation. Consultants said the proposed $335 million package would keep the total tax rate approximately flat under the stated assumptions and that bond issuances would be phased across years to manage debt service. Trustees pressed advisors about growth assumptions and warned that taxpayer perceptions at the ballot box matter.
Administration said a community engagement schedule — campus presentations, civic briefings and voter information materials — is being prepared to educate voters before early voting starts in April. No final call of the order or bond issuance was approved at this meeting; administration indicated a recommendation to bring a calling resolution to the next meeting.