FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: HOW DOES SCHOOL FUNDING WORK IN TEXAS?
A: 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. These funds are restricted for use only for projects such as the construction of new facilities; additions and renovations to existing facilities; safety and security projects; and purchase of capital expense items such as buses and large technology expenses.
School property taxes are set by an annual M&O plus I&S tax rate approved by the district’s Board of Trustees.
Q: HOW DOES THE STATE DETERMINE HOW MUCH FUNDING A DISTRICT RECEIVES?
A: A school district receives funding from the state based on two major components: enrollment, and local property values. Property taxes paid by homeowners and businesses make up the majority of revenue for local public schools. Texas school districts receive funding from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) based primarily on student attendance. State revenue makes up the difference between total revenue earned and local tax revenue. Your local school district is funded using a formula that is set in statute and based on number of students enrolled, student demographics, attendance, and the school’s participation in special programs. The basic student allotment from the state is $6,150 per student annually (for 100 percent attendance) and does not include an inflation factor.
Q: WHO DETERMINES MY PROPERTY VALUE?
A: Actual property values are determined annually by local appraisal districts. School districts, including College Station ISD, have no control over and do not set local property values.
Q: WHAT IS A BOND ELECTION?
A: 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 renovation to existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for 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 so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects. School boards then have the authority to sell bonds when facilities are needed.
Q: HOW CAN BOND MONEY BE SPENT?
A: Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for staff salaries or operating costs that are in the annual M&O budget such as a district’s utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.
Q: WHAT DOES “RECAPTURE” MEAN REGARDING SCHOOL FUNDING?
A: The Texas public school funding process, known as “Robin Hood,” shifts revenues from wealthier school districts to less wealthy districts statewide. A district in recapture status is required to send a portion of its annual M&O revenues back to the state under the “Robin Hood” system for it to be redistributed to other school districts.
Q: CAN VOTER-APPROVED BOND FUNDING BE RETURNED TO THE STATE?
A. No. Bond funding is not subject to recapture (“Robin Hood”) by the state. All bond monies are kept in the district in which they are approved, meaning every penny generated from a bond election stays in the local school district.
Q: HOW WAS THE BOND 2024 PLAN DEVELOPED?
A: The Bond 2024 projects were part of a multiple-proposition bond presented to CSISD voters in November of 2023. Propositions A and B were approved by voters, which provide additions and renovations to schools and other district facilities throughout CSISD. Propositions C and D were not approved as presented. The district reconvened a Facility Planning Committee composed of CSISD stakeholders of various backgrounds and perspectives to review the plan that was presented in November. The committee developed a recommendation that was presented to the CSISD Board of Trustees in February 2024, and the board took that recommendation and voted unanimously to present the Bond 2024 projects in the May 4, 2024 election.
Q: HOW MUCH WILL THE TAX RATE INCREASE FROM THIS BOND?
A: CSISD can fund all of the projects in Bond 2024 while maintaining a stable tax rate. The 2023 Bond package had an estimated two-cent increase to the current CSISD Interest and Sinking Tax Rate of $0.2630 per $100 valuation. The estimated increase from the 2023 Bond will remain stable for the 2024 Bond projects.
Q: HOW WILL THE RECENT INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AFFECT MY TAXES?
A: With the passage of the increase to the homestead exemption to $100,000 in 2023 along with a decrease in the total CSISD tax rate, most homeowners are seeing a decrease in their taxes paid.
Q: WHY ARE THE FIELD HOUSE RENOVATIONS INCLUDED IN THIS BOND?
A: Currently, the AMCHS Sports Medicine program has limited space to provide timely treatment to student-athletes. The current field house also has limited dressing space for student-athletes in all programs, including girls athletics and freshmen programs. The proposed Bond 2024 projects will provide adequate, functional space to treat and rehab injuries and will also expand the space to allow more students to participate in the Sports Medicine program. The projects include the creation and expansion of locker room space, coaches offices, classroom space as well as allow increased student participation.
Q: HOW WILL PROGRAMS SUCH AS GIRLS ATHLETICS AND FRESHMEN PROGRAMS BE IMPACTED BY THESE PROJECTS?
A: There is limited locker room space in the A&M Consolidated Tiger Field House for freshmen and female athletes. Freshmen student-athletes must change in a facility across the street due to overcrowding and space constraints in the A&M Consolidated Tiger Field House. Bond 2024 will provide a dedicated girls athletics dressing room as well as provide freshmen student-athletes with a locker room in the Tiger Field House.
Q: ARE STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING TREATMENT IN THE CURRENT FACILITY?
A: Student-athletes are receiving treatment for injuries, but currently experience long waiting times for rehab and general treatment due to space limitations in the training room. Some students are being treated outside the training room due to the space limitations. Renovations to the sports medicine training room will allow for increased space and ability to treat more athletes sooner.
Q: WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CURRENT BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS?
A: Currently, CSISD cannot use its baseball/softball fields during or after inclement weather. This has forced CSISD programs to rent out other districts’ facilities in order to practice and play games, and forces the cancellation of sub-varsity games that are lost due to weather-related field conditions. Bond 2024 will allow for the installation of artificial turf fields that will reduce weather-related cancellations and allow for student-athletes in baseball and softball to not miss practice times or games due to inclement field conditions. The projects will also save money for the district, as CSISD currently spends approximately $60,000 annually to rent other facilities when the current district facilities are unplayable due to inclement weather and field conditions.
Q: WHAT’S THE CONCERN WITH THE STADIUM TRACK SURFACES?
A: The current track surfaces in Cougar Stadium and Tiger Stadium are old and worn, which creates a safety issue for student-athletes. Due to the current condition of the stadium track surfaces, CSISD is unable to host track meets, including this year’s district track meet. Bond 2024 will allow for the resurfacing of the track at both high school stadiums to provide safe, functional surfaces for student-athletes.
Q: WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE VARIOUS SITE IMPROVEMENTS?
A: Bond 2024 will provide renovation of stadium and baseball/softball field restrooms and concessions to allow easier, more convenient access for fans of all ages. The bond will also provide repairs to parking lots, address drainage issues, and provide upgraded, more efficient LED lighting.