Wylie ISD Growth Management Bond:
Frequently Asked Questions.
Did Wylie ISD administrators solicit the input of local citizens before developing the bond package?
Yes. A Master Facilities Planning Committee comprised of approximately 45 parents, teachers, students, business owners, community leaders, and taxpayers from across Wylie ISD spent months analyzing the needs of our students and teachers. Their goal was to plan for current and future generations with our taxpayers in mind.
What research was conducted by the Master Facilities Planning Committee?
The volunteer committee spent months reviewing financial data, current academic needs, and student growth. They provided input and feedback, asked questions, and helped design questions for the overall community survey. The committee played a crucial role in helping district leaders develop a comprehensive bond proposal for review by the Board of Trustees. Their goal was to represent the expectations of our families well into the future. On August 21st, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place a $298 million bond proposal on the November ballot.
Was every facility in the school district reviewed during the committee process?
Yes. All schools and facilities received a facility assessment, and those assessments were reviewed by the Master Facilities Planning Committee.
Why call a bond election now?
Wylie ISD is expected to grow by 3,100 students in the next 10 years. This continued growth is a result of the community support that has led to Wylie ISD becoming a destination district for families attracted by our academic excellence and award-winning athletic and fine arts programs.
How will the Growth Management Bond deal with the day-to-day operations of district assets? What type of maintenance and infrastructure improvements would be completed?
Looking at our ongoing operations was a key part of the research of the Master Facilities Planning Committee. The Growth Management Bond will fund needed maintenance and repairs on every campus. Projected projects vary by campus and may include the following:
Flooring
Casework
Paint
Teaching surfaces
Doors & hardware
Required mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work
Paving repairs and site grading
Lighting upgrades
Roofing
Fire alarm and intercom updates
Where will the new schools be located?
If the bond passes, the new schools will be located on the east side of Wylie ISD, where the district already owns land. The elementary school will be located on Brown Street, west of Kreymer Road, while the intermediate and junior high schools will be located on Kreymer Road, south of Brown Street.
Why is a third high school not a part of the bond package?
Although the district owns a sizable piece of land suitable for a high school, the current demographic projections indicate that a third high school is not needed.
How will the district pay for operating expenses for the new schools, such as teacher salaries?
Salaries and operating expenses are paid out of the M&O (maintenance and operations) tax rate, which the district has decreased over the past five years. Regardless if the bond passes or not, demographers project nearly 3,100 students will enroll in Wylie ISD over the next 10 years, and the district must hire more teachers and personnel to provide quality instruction. Planning for new operating expenditures is very important, and it is vital for the district to budget conservatively when opening new schools. The new operating expenditures would primarily be funded by additional state revenue generated from an increase in ADA (average daily attendance).
When will town halls and/or community meetings be held?
Monday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m. at Wylie High School’s Cafeteria
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m. at Wylie East High School’s Cafeteria
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. at the Wylie ISD Educational Service Center
What is going to be the tax impact of the bond package on Wylie ISD taxpayers?
The bond package will NOT increase the property tax rate for Wylie ISD homeowners or businesses.
What will be the impact on senior citizens in the district?
Homeowners 65 years of age and older will see no increase in their tax rate as long as they have filed for their senior citizen homestead exemption. Additionally, this bond will not impact the tax rate for any Wylie ISD homeowner or business.
How is no tax rate increase possible?
Wylie ISD’s careful approach to managing debt has successfully decreased existing financial obligations, ensuring the repayment of both current and future debt commitments without increasing the I&S (interest and sinking, also known as debt service) tax rate. The current I&S tax rate of $0.455 will remain at $0.455, even as bonds are issued to fund the projects outlined in the 2023 bond proposal.
Why does the state require ballot language to read “This is a property tax increase”?
Despite the ballot language, passage of the bond package will NOT result in an increase in the property tax rate. A new state law requires all school bond referendum propositions to include ballot language that reads, “This is a property tax increase.” This language was added by the Texas Legislature for districts that struggle to meet the strict financial guidelines set by the state. However, that is not the case for Wylie ISD as we have received the highest rating possible by the state for financial transparency.
Should voters approve the bond package, does the district have policies in place to make sure our tax dollars are spent efficiently? Yes. Just like we did with the 2019 bond package, our team of financial professionals will keep a close eye on the spending approved by voters. Our best practices approach has helped Wylie ISD earn the highest ranking from the state’s Financial Integrity Rating System and achieve an ‘A’ district accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency.
Upon approval of the Growth Management Bond, is the entire amount issued all at once? Yes. These projects are immediate needs and will likely be completed within the next 2-4 years. Issuing the bonds at once allows the district to leverage economies of scale or bulk pricing, optimizing the cost efficiency for these projects.
What is the status of the 2019 bond package? Capital projects from the 2019 bond package were completed on time and within budget. Our construction team’s primary goal was to enhance efficiency whenever possible, thereby shortening the construction timeline and avoiding the potential for cost escalation in the case of unexpected delays. Property tax rates were not increased to cover the 2019 bond.
Where can I learn more about the Master Facilities Planning Committee’s work?
More information about the committee, including meeting videos, can be found at wylieisd.net/mfp2023.
How do I receive more information about the Growth Management Bond?
Wylie ISD is committed to transparency. Please contact us at 972-429-3000 or submit your questions here, and our team will reach out to you.