Bryan ISD bond steering committee outlines $400 million package, stresses no tax-rate increase at that cap

Bryan ISD staff presented a narrowed bond package to the board, saying the district could issue up to $400 million in bonds without raising its current 27¢ tax rate and asking trustees for feedback before a possible November election. Norma Friddle, assistant superintendent for business services, told the board "we could go up to $400 million without a tax rate increase," and said required ballot language will nonetheless include technical wording that can read like a property-tax-rate increase.

The packet presented by the bond steering committee breaks proposed projects into draft propositions and categories the committee said reflect community input and consultant analysis. The staff described roughly $197 million of the package as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology (MEPT) work focused on immediate (P1) and near-term (P2) life‑cycle needs. "A lot of this is P1s that are on their last leg," a district presenter said, underlining the urgency of replacing aging HVAC and critical systems.

Athletics and facility projects feature prominently in the draft: staff described a $41 million plan for a new Merrill Green field house and related stadium improvements, and recommended synthetic turf and track refreshes across several secondary campuses to reduce weather-related cancellations. "The dollar amount is obviously $41 million," a presenter said when describing the Merrill Green field-house concept, and the committee cited estimated turf work in the low‑tens of millions for baseball and softball fields.

Career and technical education (CTE) upgrades and new teaching spaces were another focus. Laura King, director of CTE, said the steering group is considering either a new ag teaching facility or a multipurpose training space at CTEC, and plans to survey stakeholders and work with the CTE advisory council before final design. "We have industry partners asking for equipment and space," she said, describing the goal of aligning course offerings with regional workforce demand.

Board members pressed staff for cost detail and tradeoffs. The packet frames Bryan Collegiate as a choice point: staff estimates a $32 million investment would improve the facility’s condition score (the facility condition index) but leave it in a ‘‘gray area’’ versus building a new 550‑student facility (estimated at about $61.6 million) or a 700‑student option (~$78 million). Staff said the FCI for Bryan Collegiate currently sits at 59% and would drop into the 30s after a $32 million MEPT investment.

Friddle also explained the tax-rate arithmetic. "One penny would generate approximately $30 million," she said in response to a board question, and staff repeated that the $400 million ceiling is what the district can finance while maintaining the current 27¢ rate. Staff emphasized this was informational: no bond call or election is on the table yet and the board will continue to refine the package with community engagement and oversight committee review.

Next steps outlined by staff include additional committee work, a June 23 steering update and an opportunity for the full board to ask for more detail at a scheduled board meeting. If the board decides to place a bond proposition on the ballot, the earliest timeline presented would be an August call for an election to appear on a November ballot. Staff said a citizen oversight committee would review projects and costs post‑vote if voters approve the bond.

The presentation and ensuing discussion made clear the committee narrowed a long list of ideas to a set of recommended projects, but several board members asked for site visits, photos and deeper justification—especially for high‑cost items—before the board would seriously consider placing the package to voters. The board closed the session with agreement to continue the conversation and to seek additional cost and lifecycle detail on the highest‑priced projects.