BRENHAM ISD FINALIZING PLANS FOR BOND ELECTION
Brenham ISD appears poised to call a bond election.
On Thursday, the Brenham School Board held a workshop to iron out the details of a single-proposition bond proposal worth $153.9 million. The biggest projects included would be a new junior high school for grades 6-8 and repurposing Brenham Middle School for grades Pre-K-5. All other elementary schools would also accommodate Pre-K through 5th grades.
Kyle Merten, a member of the Bond Planning Committee, said the scope of the bond was reduced to focus on the district’s most important and immediate needs.
The bond project would also call for several upgrades at the high school, including an expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) building and CTE renovations, upgrades to the field house locker rooms and cafeteria and a band marching pad. In addition, the proposal would fund districtwide accessibility and security improvements and fiber internet enhancements. Superintendent Dr. Tylor Chaplin said a best-case scenario would have the new junior high open in August 2024.
Taxpayers in Brenham ISD would see an estimated tax rate increase of 24.8 cents per $100 valuation from the current rate of 98.84 cents per $100. Taxes for homeowners with a property value of $200,000 would go up $497 per year, or $41.39 per month.
Merten stressed the need to properly educate voters about what is included with the bond.
Some questions asked during the workshop were what would happen to the Early Childhood Learning Center and if anyone would lose their jobs with the repurposing of the middle school. Dr. Chaplin said the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) would no longer function as a campus for Pre-K students, but it “will still be part of BISD” and “will be a utilized building.” He also confirmed that no one would lose their employment as part of the middle school conversion and redefined use of the ECLC, but staff would be restructured.
Brenham ISD last passed a bond in 2012 for $25.9 million to build Alton Elementary School and renovate the middle school. Prior to that, the district passed a $10 million bond in 2004 to build Brenham Elementary School and a $23.6 million bond in 1994 to build a new high school and auditorium.
The board will consider the bond recommendation at a noon meeting on Monday at the Brenham ISD Central Office.
Also on Thursday, the board approved the 2020-21 district financial audit performed by Belt Harris Pechacek. Robert Belt, Managing Partner for the firm, said the district received an unmodified opinion, the highest level of assurance that can be provided to the board, with all financial statements materially correct.
No, the freeze is on the amount of your payments to the school district.
There is a proposition to do away with property taxes on the upcoming election ballot . When it passes resoundingly, let’s hope it is a wake up call for our elected officials to support schools more equitably. This is the worst possible time to pour more taxes on citizens. We have the highest inflation in years coupled with higher costs for every commodity, housing and healthcare. We need a new Jr. High, period. Leave everything else as is. Vote NO! on the ridiculously high bond request.
So as a retired, fixed income, couple we face something between $800/$1000 increase in property tax…on top of what additional increase because of the highly inflated values of property. We can’t afford it. So we have to give up others things we worked our tales off for 40+ years to earn. All for a pathetic education system that does little to prepare young people for life.
First, change the law. Many ways to accomplish the education system without putting the burden on working people and none on the majority of those accessing the system without paying a penny.
Second, we have a government school system and like all government programs no attention is paid to efficiency. That’s another subject that would take this entire space.
Vote no!!!!
If you are retired, you are likely over 65 which means your taxes are FROZEN. Which means you aren’t going to bear the cost of this increase to that degree. Most of the angst is coming from the over 65 crowd who this will have a very minimal effect on. Those of us with children in this district, who have lived here, grown up here and attended these schools know how badly this is needed. I am hugely in favor of this. We have to quit kicking the can down the road and give our kids and all the future students in this district safe learning environments.
No. You are incorrect.
Some of the improvements are needed. Not all, and definitely not all at once.
The amount they are asking is ridiculous.
Too much, plane and simple.
Burton just passed one, for much less, but that school actually needed it.
Brenham ISD can do with less.
This will not pass this time, for this amount, no way. I don’t think they expect it to anyhow. This is just a primer, to get everyone ready for the next one they hope to pass.
Frozen…my rate is frozen but my taxes go up because the value of the property continues to go up…also, that only pertains to my homestead. Any other property it doesn’t…so obviously your comments are incorrect. So you’re saying us old people should keep our mouths shut and pay up??? It’s not the tax payers kicking the can down the road it’s the government controlled and managed school systems. I have numerous grandchildren in the system as well as many kids and grandkids of friends and relatives. So certainly I am interested in the system. But if you say for one instance that our schools produce a quality education you need to look harder. It’s not fancy buildings that make solid future citizens, it’s a quality system. And the building will not keep the children safe…it is a system that respects right, wrong and puts God first that keeps them safe.
Well said…. Here we go again