Eagle Pass ISD board votes to call $150 million bond election to upgrade facilities

The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously Feb. 10 to adopt an order calling a $150,000,000 bond election to address aging buildings, safety upgrades and campus expansion.

District facilities committee members presented the proposed package to trustees, saying the bond is intended to fund new campuses, classroom additions, removal of portable buildings, security control points and routine capital maintenance such as five‑year roof replacements. "These funds can only be used for construction or whatever it is that we are saying or we're recommending for the issuance of the bonds," a committee presenter said, adding that proceeds could not be used for salaries.

Why it matters: Committee members framed the bond as a response to long‑deferred maintenance and safety concerns, saying waiting would increase future costs. Committee materials and speakers listed priority projects including new campuses (Kennedy Hall, ECC, Glatz Elementary, Grange Elementary), additions at several schools, additional gyms at junior highs, and districtwide roofing and accessibility work.

Tax impact and state assistance: Committee members gave homeowners examples of estimated tax impacts: a $250,000 home would pay about $188 a year (roughly $16 per month), a $300,000 home about $274 a year ($23 per month), and a $350,000 home roughly $360 a year (about $30 per month). A district financial representative, identified in the transcript as David, said typical state assistance covers roughly 27–28% of principal for qualifying issuances, which for a $150 million issue would amount to roughly $40 million in principal assistance "just on the principal."

Oversight and alternates: Presenters said the package includes alternates — land acquisition, an auditorium and additional parking — that would be considered if primary projects are completed and funds remain. The committee recommended formation of a citizen oversight committee to monitor bond expenditures and construction. "There will be a side committee of citizens monitoring how much money went into these campuses," a committee spokesperson said.

Board action and next steps: Trustee Jaime Barrera moved to adopt the order calling the bond election; Trustee Lipson seconded. Following brief procedural steps and a request by counsel to record the vote, the board approved the order unanimously. The agenda did not specify an election date in the portions of the transcript provided; the board gave no additional timeline in the recorded discussion.

What was not decided: The board passed the order to call the election but did not adopt final project contracts or construction schedules in the portion of the meeting transcript provided. Presenters emphasized statutory limits on bond proceeds and stated the proposed tax impact for citizens aged 65 and older would not increase under the plan.

The board also approved related consent business during the same meeting; a record vote was noted by counsel as required for one resolution and recorded as unanimous in the transcript. The meeting concluded after routine announcements.