FAQ

School districts must ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors to raise money for capital projects, such as construction, renovations/repair of school buildings and purchasing new school buses. Without voter approval, the school district cannot move forward. Additionally, bond dollars cannot be used for salaries, employee benefits or operating costs by state law. 

The bond election would be held in the November 2023 election.

The committee will recommend two propositions, both for the November 2023 election.

Proposition A includes:

• The construction of brand new Midland Senior High School and Legacy Senior High School campuses.
• The updating of the current Legacy Senior High and Midland Freshman campuses for conversion to middle schools. MISD current four middle schools will also see renovations.
• The updating of safety and security at campuses district-wide.

Proposition B includes:

• The construction of a brand new elementary school in the Lone Star Trails area of northeast Midland.
• General maintenance to campuses across the district.

The tally for Proposition A is $1.361 billion, or about $37 per month for the average homeowner. The tally for Proposition B is $317.2 million, or about $11 per month for the average homeowner.

The maintenance projects that would be addressed in the bond cost more than the annual maintenance and operating budget can support. These aging facility upgrades include mechanical, electrical, and plumbing improvements district-wide. We cannot complete these necessary upgrades to our aging facilities with the normal operating budget.

 Election history since 1997 and tax rate history from 2014

There are several state grants that are related safety and security. Recently we have applied for the School Safety Grant in the amount $1,155,015.00 and the Silent Panic Alert Technology grant $78,092.00  The district also in its annual funding formulas has a safety allotment that is around $250,000.  In technology, the district applies for infrastructure grants and has received those grants through E-Rate program.  Ths program provides discounts to assist schools to obtain affordable telecommunications and internet access.

The bond cost can only be paid by property tax.  School districts operate with two tax rates:  Maintenance & Operations (M&O) and Interest & Sinking (I&S) also known as debt service and when a bond is passed.  While facilities can be built with either, school districts typically cannot afford to do big projects such as these out of M & O.  Also, with districts like MISD who are property wealthy and subject to recapture, M&O tax collections are subject to recapture.  We have to send the State 33-35% of every dollar we bring in on the M&O side in the form of recapture that is distributed to other school districts.  The State considers these funds they recapture as funds they are contributing to public education.  On the I&S side, the money paid in by taxpayers is NOT subject to recapture, so every $1 brought in that money stays in Midland.

Visit votetexas.gov for a variety of voter resources, including registration instructions, sample ballots and polling locations.