Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bond election?
School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as the renovation of existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission to the District to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, (much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home). A school board calls a bond election to submit the bond proposition to the voters so that the voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects. Once authorized by the voters, school boards then have the authority to sell bonds when facilities are needed.
How can bond money be spent?
Bond funds can be used to pay for the projects that the voters approved at the bond election (generally, new buildings, additions, and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure, and equipment for new or existing buildings). Bond funds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel, and insurance.
How does school funding work in Texas?
Texas school districts are funded by three major sources: Federal, State, and Local. Two factors drive school finance in Texas: enrollment, and local property values. A school district tax rate has two distinct components which, added together, make up the annual school tax rate.
Maintenance and Operations (M&O) funds are used to fund the day-to-day operations of a school district, including teacher and staff salaries; utilities; student services and curriculum; professional development; and facility maintenance and management.
Interest and Sinking (I&S) funds are generated from the sale of voter-approved bonds and can be used only for the repayment of bonds issued to finance the projects approved by the voters at the bond election.
School property taxes are set by an annual M&O plus I&S tax rate approved by the district’s Board of Trustees.
Who determines my property value?
Actual property values are determined annually by local appraisal districts. School districts have no control over and do not set local property values.
How was the 2025 bond proposal developed?
In the summer of 2024 WISD commissioned a Facility Condition Assessment (FCA) that analyzed all of WISD’s campuses and facilities. Also at that time, the WISD nominated members of the community to serve on a Facility Needs Task Force. The Task Force began meeting in September and spent many hours together analyzing the facility needs of WISD - particularly using the completed FCA report. Analyzing these needs, prioritizing these needs, and considering the potential financial impacts of addressing those needs was the sizable task bestowed upon the Facility Needs Task Force. Throughout many meetings, and with the help of input provided by consultants and District staff, the Facility Needs Task Force arrived at a recommendation that they presented to the Board of Trustees on January 13, 2025. The Board then held a special meeting on January 29, 2025 where they received additional information regarding the recommendation, and then called for the Bond Election on February 10, 2025.
Is Wimberley ISD growing?
Since 2000 WISD’s student enrollment has grown by 68%. One of the purposes of submitting this bond to the voters is to address this enrollment growth and improve and expand facilities to accommodate the enrollment growth.
How does this bond address school safety in WISD?
The safety of our schools is our top priority. The 2025 Bond provides district-wide safety, security, and technology upgrades district-wide. These upgrades include features such as panic alert devices for campus staff, fire protection equipment upgrades, security fencing at WHS and DJH, addition and replacement of safety cameras, and the rekeying of campus door locks.
If I am 65 or older, will my taxes increase?
No. Taxes are “frozen” for taxpayers aged 65 and over or disabled persons with a Homestead Exemption. These taxpayers see no increase in their tax rate as a result of a school bond election.
How will the 2025 bond impact the tax rate?
We expect that this bond will increase the tax rate by 3 cents. For a homeowner in WISD who has a property with a taxable value of $400,000, this is expected to be an increase of $10 per month.
Why are there four different propositions?
State law mandates that certain school Bond projects be placed on separate props for voters to consider. This is why Props B, C, and D are specific to particular projects, or areas of WISD, and the remainder of the projects are in Prop A.