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Alvin ISD to seek $97.2 million bond issue
Published June 12, 2003
ALVIN — With a tight economy and in an effort to keep a lid on taxes, Alvin ISD trustees called for a $97.2 million bond election Tuesday. The bond issue is substantially less than the $129 million a committee had identified the district needed.
Alvin ISD Board President J.B. Hensler said trustees were trying to get the maximum amount of facility needs met with the lowest possible tax rate.
“We are trying to hold down the taxes as much as possible,” Hensler said. “We are asking the voters to approve a bond issue that is bare-boned.”
Tommy King, the district’s deputy superintendent of business, said that to pay for the bond issue taxes would increase by nine cents. The district’s current tax rate is $1.58 per $100 property valuation.
King said the average home in Alvin ISD was valued at $75,000. On a $75,000 home, the tax rate increase would amount to a $62.50 increase in property taxes. He said the nine-cent increase would be done incrementally in the first three years and continue for 25 years.
School district officials are projecting that the district’s current student population of 11,600 will grow to 14,000 in the next four years.
The school district’s west end, which includes Manvel and parts of Pearland, is seeing a lot of residential development. The district is trying to prepare for the growth from new subdivisions such as Shadow Creek Ranch and Rodeo Palms. Pearland city officials predict that Shadow Creek Ranch will have about 35,000 residents by the year 2017.
Trustee Tom Wilson said with the population growth expected, the district had to build new schools and repair old ones.
“It is not a wish list,” Wilson said. “It is a requirement. I think it is a consensus of the board that this is badly needed.”
The bond issue includes a second high school, which will be in Manvel. It also includes an elementary school and money to buy land for another elementary school and another junior high.
Other items in the bond issue include repairs to several schools including Alvin High School, Alvin Elementary, Longfellow Elementary, Alvin Junior High, Harby Junior High and Manvel Junior High. Repairs to the Alvin High School auditorium and Memorial Stadium will also be a part of the bond issue.
Needs that were identified by the district committee that are not part of the bond issue include building a fourth junior high, buying land for a 14th elementary school and building a districtwide pool for competitive swimming.
Superintendent Greg Smith said the district might need another bond election in three to five years to fund the projects not included in the current bond issue.
Carlos Armintor covers Alvin for The Facts. He can be reached at (979) 265-7411, ext. 246.
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