Registered voters in Brazosport Independent School District approved a $267 million bond referendum on May 4, 2019. The school district drew a majority vote from the community with the uncanvassed count at 2,980 votes cast FOR and 807 votes cast AGAINST the referendum. The approval rating for the bond referendum was 78 percent.

The referendum will build new schools and enhance district operations:

• new facilities - a new Brazoswood High School, new SFA STEM Academy and a new maintenance, transportation and child nutrition facility
• new and enhanced Career and Technical Education programs at both high schools
• safety and security enhancements to all campuses;
• transportation, including additional air conditioned buses;
• technology upgrades to district infrastructure and classroom technology; and
• renovations and additions to protect the district’s instructional and support facilities.

“We are extremely grateful that our Brazosport community members continue to support public education for our children and showed that at the polls.” said Danny Massey, superintendent of schools. “We appreciate the hard work of our long-range facilities planning committee and our Board of Trustees, who spent many hours planning for the district’s future. It’s wonderful to live in a community that is committed to a quality public education and values students and teachers.  We have worked extremely hard over the last several years to ensure student achievement, and create financial trust and transparency.  This bond will positively impact generations of Brazosport ISD students and staff.”  

A 36-member long-range facilities planning committee met regularly to evaluate and assess current and future needs of BISD, while developing a recommendation that:

• considered the educational needs of students;
• provided a solution for the facility, technology and transportation needs brought on by the district’s growth;
• ensured support for a quality education for all students;
• reflected community values and perceptions of needs; and
• remained fiscally sound.

Committee member Jim Martin presented the recommendation for a $267 million bond package to the Board of Trustees in January and the Board unanimously called for a bond election during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The bond can be accomplished within the current tax rate. The total tax rate is $1.2553 per $100 of appraised value. With significant industry investments in our area from Freeport LNG, The Dow Chemical Company, BASF, and ME Global, we have the capacity within the current Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate of 0.2153 to issue $267 million of bonds over the next 5 years. Utilization of the capacity from the I&S side of the tax rate is the most efficient use of local dollars as we are able to retain 100% of I&S tax dollars paid here in Brazosport. The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate is 1.04 and is subject to the State’s Recapture “Robin Hood” system.

For video summaries and more details of what is included in the 2019 BISD Bond, go to www.brazosportisd.net/2019Bond.