Bonds, Bonds and more Bonds!

Texas Watchdog has a couple items on the assortment of bonds that will be on the ballot in the upcoming election. The first takes a critical look at the one that will be on our ballot, the one asking AISD voters to approve over $250 million in spending on several new campuses.

- Small town wants to build 5 of the costliest schools in Texas history. The author takes issue with the amount of money spent on school construction in the state. He also points to a potentially cozy relationship between something called the Fast School Growth Coalition - which hopes to eliminate caps on property taxes - and the Texas House Public Education Committee. It seems that the daughter of the chair of the committee lobbies for the group.

- Light turnouts, low information hike local debt in Texas. Here the author looks at the dynamic of bond elections and points out that many pass - he claims a 75% passage rate - largely because proponents of the bonds are able to take advantage of low turnout and low information and persuade a sufficient number of voters that the expenditures are in the best interests of their communities. He also points out that while the governing entities that are proposing the bonds cannot advertise for them, the interest groups that will benefit from them can and do.

The author also points to a handy page on the comptroller's website that lists all of the bonds on the various ballots throughout the state this November.

- Texas Transparency: Upcoming Bond Election Roundup.

About the 2013 AISD Bond election

Aside from the 9 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, area voters will only have to decide on whether to approve a $212 million bond proposal by the Alvin Independent School District.

Click here for the announcement of the election - and a description of the bond - in the AISD webpage. It was approved by the board in August:

Contents of the school bond proposal were recommended by the Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC), a group of parents, local citizens, and school staff. “The CAC worked long and hard for about six months to figure out the best options to address the fast growth that the district is experiencing,” said David Becker, co-chair of the group.

The recommended package totals $212,445,000 and includes funds for the District’s third high school to accommodate 2,500 students; elementary 16 for 800 students; replacing Longfellow Elementary on the original site to accommodate 800 students, land and design for elementary 17 and 18; a junior high school in Manvel to accommodate 1,000 students; renovation and expansion of Alvin Junior High for 300 more students, land for junior high seven; design and related costs for a Career and Technical Education Facility, and a new Godwin Ag Facility to improve instructional access. Also in the proposal are safety and security projects, including the addition of more secure entrances on older campuses, replacing outdated communication systems and adding surveillance cameras. The proposal also includes land and design for a centralized facility for a district athletic stadium, satellite transportation center and district competition swimming pool (natatorium).

With their focus on meeting the educational needs of students and their commitment to being good stewards of tax dollars, the Board voted to allocate $8.6 million from available fund balance and $3.46 million from current maintenance and operations funds to cover some of the projects recommended by the CAC. “These include items with shorter term use such as band uniforms, buses and technology,” said Tommy King, deputy superintendent for business. Additionally, due to lower construction costs, the District has $28,095,000 of authorized, yet unissued, bond funds available from the 2009 bond referendum which will also be used to fund bond some of the projects.

The Chronicle had a comprehensive story on the matter in August. This followed a previous one on the Citizens Advisory Committee that recommended the bond. The need for a high school on the west side was a major issue in the recent election:

When Nicole Tonini successfully ran in May for Position 5 Alvin school trustee, she said, "Many on this side of the district feel a high school on the west side is long overdue.

"It would be good for this area and also for the east side as it will alleviate growth at Alvin and Manvel high schools," she said.

. . . "The need for a third high school is incredibly crucial," said Paul Ingamells, who served as committee co-chair with David Becker. Ingamells added that the need for the third high school is documented by a third-party demographic company.

"This bond has really got to pass," Ingamells said.

Demographic forecasts indicate Manvel High School will have 2,504 students in the fall. It has a capacity of 2,500. Officials project it could have as many as 3,416 by 2017.

The district has already engaged SWA Architects to begin the design process, said district spokesman Dan Combs. The school's location is at Kirby and Broadway, across from Pearland Town Center. The district purchased the land as part of its 2009 bond initiative.

The third high school site prevents the inclusion of a varsity football stadium and natatorium; so the citizens committee recommends spending $8.9 million to purchase land and build such facilities.

Alvin ISD trustees voted 5-2 on Aug. 8 to call the election.

Tonini voted in favor along with board president Tiffany Wennerstrom, vice president Regan Metoyer and trustees Cheryl Harris and Charles McCauley.

Trustees Mike Lansford and Sue Stringer voted in opposition.

Some of the opposition was due to the way the vote was to be conducted:

Stringer said she is not specifically against the bond, but has concern over the district's practice of using branch polling locations in addition to the usual early voting and Election Day locations.

She believes it is an "attempt to skew the vote."

"Seniors, for example, are not going to be out after dark and could be disenfranchised," she said.

Lansford agrees with concerns over rotating polling locations, saying the additional cost is unnecessary. He adds, "Since the additional 23 sites are not neutral, many people will perceive the school district as stacking the vote in the bond's favor."

Combs said the district has been using branch voting locations for years when it comes to bond elections. He explained this allows for greater participation among residents.

"It means more people are enabled to participate," he said, adding that the practice is also used by neighboring school districts. Residents can also early vote and vote on Election Day. 

Sample Ballot for the November 5, 2013 Brazoria County Election

Click here for Brazoria County's elections page.

ACC is in precinct 41, so here's the actual ballot voters registered here will be presented.

It contains the nine Texas constitutional amendments and an up or down vote on a proposed $212 million bond for AISD.

ISD and Municipal Election Results - May 11, 2013

Click here for full results from Brazoria County.

And here for results for Harris County.

Commentary to follow.

Brazoria County Elections - 2009

Sample ballot from the Brazoria County Clerk.

Info on the AISD Bond proposal.