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Royse City ISD to pause some bond projects, prioritize Worthy Fayette High amid tax-law uncertainty
Summary
District leaders said pending state tax changes and slower-than-projected property-value growth are constraining bond capacity, so the district will pause Magnus Middle School and prioritize completing Worthy Fayette High while monitoring certified values and legislation.
Royse City Independent School District officials announced they will delay some bond-funded construction projects and concentrate available funds on Worthy Fayette High School while watching state legislative changes and preliminary property-value reports.
"We decided that we need to focus all of our energy on Worthy Fete High School and keeping that project as much on schedule as we possibly can," Byron Bryant, the district’s chief financial officer, said in the board’s legislative and bond update. Bryant told trustees the district’s 2023 bond remains authorized in full, but the timing of accessing those funds depends on how the local tax base grows.
Bryant summarized the financial position: the $863 million bond package has $275 million issued, about $207 million spent, roughly $13 million earned in interest, and cash on hand near $80 million as of the end of February. He and Superintendent Doctor Anderson said recent and proposed changes—most notably increases to homestead and other exemptions—have reduced the district’s debt‑service tax base and could limit how quickly the district can sell additional debt.
Construction director Jim Lawson described the practical effect: Moss Elementary is on track for opening and is not affected, many components of Worthy Fayette High are progressing, and the in‑place earthwork at Magnus Middle School means that pausing now would preserve value and reduce cost exposure. Lawson said pause decisions were being made to prioritize projects that deliver the greatest relief to student capacity.
District officials repeatedly framed the change as a timing and cash‑flow decision rather than a cancellation: the bond package remains fully authorized by voters, and trustees said they will revisit schedules after certified property values are issued and the legislative session concludes.
The board received the update as part of the superintendent’s report and did not take a separate formal vote to alter the bond ordinance during the meeting; the administration reported the operational decision and ongoing monitoring steps.
