The Tarkington Independent School District (TISD) Board of Trustees has voted to call a bond election for Tuesday, May 3, 2025, with two propositions totaling $95 million. Proposition A, valued at $50 million, and Proposition B, at $45 million, aim to address critical infrastructure needs, land acquisition, and the construction of a new elementary school.
The bond package was developed based on recommendations from the Future Forward Committee, a group of local citizens, parents, civic and business leaders, and school staff. Their recommendations were informed by facility assessments, demographic studies, enrollment projections, and district financial audits. The Board prioritized projects that received the most community support through survey feedback.
Voters will have the option to approve either Proposition A, Proposition B, or both.
Proposition A: Campus and facility improvements
Proposition A focuses on renovations and upgrades across all TISD campuses, ensuring improved safety, modernized learning environments, and updated infrastructure.
At Tarkington Early Childhood School, built in 1957, planned improvements include roof repairs, interior painting, flooring upgrades, energy-efficient lighting, plumbing and restroom upgrades, gym renovations, and ADA-compliant signage and door hardware.
Tarkington Elementary School, built in 1971, is slated for major interior renovations, including new lighting, ceiling tiles, flooring, and a secure entrance.
Tarkington Middle School, constructed in 1974, will receive roof repairs, cafeteria and kitchen renovations, science lab upgrades, covered walkways, new gym bleachers, energy-efficient lighting, HVAC improvements, and ADA-compliant updates.
Tarkington High School, built in 2003, will see the addition of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) wing, new classrooms, and an expanded agricultural shop with additional fencing and gates. Science labs will be renovated, roof leaks repaired, and energy-efficient lighting installed.
Fine Arts facilities will also be upgraded. The high school band hall will be expanded, with additional rehearsal space, practice rooms, and instrument storage. The middle school band hall will receive soundproofing and new carpeting, while the middle school auditorium will see improvements to its sound system, lighting, and stage.
District-wide improvements include the purchase of new buses, land acquisition, and updates to the wastewater management plant, the latter of which dates back to 1974. Additionally, security enhancements will be made at all campuses, including upgraded entry access hardware and improved security vestibules at each school.
Proposition B: New elementary school
Proposition B proposes the construction of a new elementary school to accommodate the district’s growing student population. The new school will have a capacity of 900 students and span approximately 110,000 square feet.
Projected tax impact
If voters approve Proposition A, the estimated tax rate increase will be 6.96 cents, bringing the total tax rate to $0.9998. If only Proposition B passes, the increase will be 6.27 cents, resulting in a total tax rate of $0.9929. If both propositions are approved, the combined increase will be 13.23 cents, bringing the total tax rate to $1.0625.
For a homestead assessed at $250,000, with a taxable value of $150,000 after exemptions, the estimated tax increase would be $16.54 per month or $198.45 per year. However, homeowners aged 65 and older who have applied for the “Age 65 or Older Exemption” will not see an increase beyond their frozen dollar amount. Additionally, homes with an appraised value of $100,000 or less will not owe any school taxes to TISD due to the recently increased homestead exemption.
The bonds will be sold in phases as needed for projects and as the district’s property values increase. The timeline for bond sales is subject to change based on economic factors and district growth.
Propose the bond without a tax raise(it’s not uncommon) and it will pass. The people are broke no more money. You don’t need to raise taxes because they up our valuations every year.
I will absolutely vote NO!!! I can not afford it, period. All you fools that voted Biden into office can pay for it out of your own pockets, after all your life was so enriched by his and your dem values,,,right???
You people are idiots, i will give you the two dollars and fifty cents it will raise your property taxes. You probably rent anyway.
And you must be a sucker who enjoys giving up your hard earned money or you are rich and can take the hit. The average middle class family pays close to 25 percent or more of our income in taxes between local, state, and federal. That is enough, I will never vote to have more than that taken. My suggestion is that all you people with deep enough pockets get together and make a big donation so the school can do some of what it needs. Or the school needs to heed our vote and propose a bond without a tax increase.
Texas doesn’t have state income taxes… 🧐
Im hardly rich. Lol. However i do believe in investing where it matters. I cant think of a better reason than a childs future.
I do as well, that’s why I begrudgingly pay my property taxes, but I pay enough. And fancy buildings don’t influence learning, only parents and good teachers do.
Maybe don’t buy a pack of smokes or a case of beer once a week for an entire month… boom, you paid the increase and some extra money in your pockets!!
I guess not having a state income tax means we don’t have state taxes. Texas just funds itself through fairy dust I suppose. Implying that we don’t pay state taxes because we don’t have a state income tax is really stupid.
Matt sounds like a typical lefty telling people to not spend their money freely but instead to give it to our overlords under threat of losing your home or going to jail. It’s no wonder taxes are out of control in this country.
If someone is going to lose their home over $16 a month, I think they should probably rethink their spending habits. Also how am I lefty for wanting my children to have the best possible education they can? Righty’s can believe in their children’s future too ya know.
Lefties browbeat people to give up their money to the govt because they spend it better.
I am thankful that when my kids were in Tarkington schools, the parents at that time wanted what was best for their children and didn’t worry about their pocketbook losing $16 a month.
How many of you have lived in a house for 30 years and never done any roof repairs or air conditioner repairs or replacements. Where the roofs are leaking I’m sure there is mold. And if you’re comfortable with your child being in that kind of environment for eight or nine hours a day then keep your $16 a month in your pocket.
If my roof has a leak I would prioritize fixing that the first day it popped up, not build a new house. You guys drink the propaganda so bad it’s hilarious.
Ummmm… did you read the article? Or did you just miss the part where most of the funds are for renovations?
Taxes never go down. Fools always are in favor of things they don’t need.
100 million dollars… for Tarkington? Hell no. We don’t need extravagant schools that rival the Taj Mahal. We had portable buildings when I went to school- got educated just fine. Some counties just raised property taxes by a seemingly criminal amount- one of my lots in Montgomery county went up 1,400%. That’s not a typo. Another in Liberty county almost doubled. Take it out of the money that has already been extorted from us taxpayers.
Liberty CAD adds at least $10,000 for improvements every year. Now we have some wanting to have a animal shelter and a animal control officer. Force all the County Citizens to spray, neuter and chip their animals. Then other Counties will bring their over flow here. Means more taxes. But they can’t fix roads. Time for a raise to.
How many times will they try to pass this……NO means NO!!!