San Angelo ISD Goes For It! Calls for a $149 Million Bond Election

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo ISD Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to call a bond election to be held May 5, 2018.

The amount of the tax increase can be described multiple ways. The District states the tax rate increase to pay for the bond is 14.25 cents. It will increase the overall property tax rate from $1.21 per $100 in property valuation to $1.3525 per $100.

Another way of describing it is that the bond proposes to increase your property tax rate nearly 12 percent.

The District stated the Board action Monday night follows a recommendation from the District’s Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee (LRFPC) to address what they described as aging conditions, security upgrades across the district, and facilities for evolving and growing student programs.

The citizens on the LRFPC who recommended the bond were selected to serve, the District told us.

“I am thankful the members of our Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee for the time they spent assessing our facilities and planning for the future of our district,” said Dr. Carl Dethloff, superintendent of San Angelo ISD. “Each member added value the process and brought an important perspective. Their work is a continuation from the 2008 bond program.”

Development of the 2018 bond proposal involved an in-depth process of information gathering, research, and community input.

In September, San Angelo ISD convened its LRFPC and committee members met six times during a five-month period to study and prioritize the District’s current and long-term facility needs.

On Monday, January 22, the committee presented its recommendations the Board of Trustees.

On the district’s “Long Range Facilities Planning Committee” who, the District states, recommended the bond:

• Dan Baker                
• Lt. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins, Jr., Ret.    
• Wrey Montgomery
• Mike Boyd                            
• Dr. Colleen Heartsill                        
• Dana Nolen
• Krista Bradley                                   
• Baynes Hobbs                                             
• Angel Perez
• Elizabeth Chambers            
• Lorenzo Lasater                               
• Louie Perez
• John Childers                       
• Matt Lewis                                        
• Rev. Bill Proctor        
• Gus Clemens                        
• Taishi Ligon                                     
• Andy Robinson
• Amy Deadman                                 
• Dr. Flor Madero                               
• Carlos Robledo
• Christy Diego                       
• Dr. Brian May                                   
• Carlos Rodriguez
• Dr. Javier Flores                   
• Debbi Meads                                   
• Howard Taylor
• Brenda Gunter                     
• Pierce Miller                                     
• Whitney Watson Wood

The committee’s recommendation included a priority on campuses and projects that were not included in the 2008 bond referendum. The District stated that the May 5 bond package totals $148,900,000 and includes new construction, additions and renovations at the following campuses:

• Alta Loma Elementary School
• Austin Elementary School
• Belaire Elementary School
• Bonham Elementary School
• Bowie Elementary School
• Fannin Elementary School
• Ft Concho Elementary School
• McGill Elementary School
• Glenn Middle School
• Lincoln Middle School
• Central High School
• Central Freshman
• Lake View High School
• Alternative Learning Center

The proposed San Angelo ISD property tax rate of $1.3525 means that for a property like a home with a value of approximately $154,000 will see an increase of $15.32 per month, or $183.84 per year.

Voting on the bond referendum begins during Early Voting from April 23 until May 1, and on Election Day, Saturday, May 5.

More information about the bond proposal can be found online at www.SAISDBond.org.