Local NewsTaxes & Spending$1.1 Billion Bond Election Set by Klein ISD Board in Unanimous Vote

This slate of bonds will be on the May 7 local election ballot, and include:

• Proposition A: $843.8 million to build a new intermediate school, enable population growth-focused renovations, upgrade security in all schools, and enhance some extracurricular facilities.
• Proposition B: $51.5 million to purchase new personal technology devices for all students and teachers.
• Proposition C: $131.3 million to construct a new events center with an 8,000-person seating capacity.
• Proposition D: $75.2 million to build a new 8,000-person football stadium and renovate Klein Memorial Stadium.

If each proposition is approved by voters, the district says the tax rate will increase $0.03.

The increase would bring in about $50 million more dollars in property taxes based on the appraised value from the Harris County Appraisal District.

Taking into account the next-year home value forecast, an average homeowner whose home is worth $282,014 will see a $500 increase in their tax bill, that includes the additional revenue should the bonds pass. The increase associated with the propositions’ passage would amount to $86.

The district notes that the tax rate with the $1.1 billion in bonds would still be lower than neighboring Humble, Cy-Fair, and Katy ISDs. But without appraisal information, which rarely remains flat or decreases, only half of the equation exists from which to judge the property tax decisions. 

The only way tax bills will decrease is if the entity adopts the no-new-revenue rate, or one even lower.

The district also says that even with the bond items’ approval, the rate will still be $0.10 lower than 2014. But the average home value was half of what it’s estimated to be in 2023.

With the lower tax rate, the average homeowner’s property tax bill in 2023 would still be over $1,600 higher than in 2014 — and that’s with the state homestead exemption rising from $15,000 then to $40,000 this year, should Texas voters approve the increase from the current $25,000.

Klein ISD says that elderly homeowners who apply for the over-65 homestead exemption will not see an increase in their tax bill.

“This bond program is the result of our Klein ISD community coming together to assess the District’s facilities, technology, safety and security, fine arts, and athletics,” Klein ISD Board President Ronnie Anderson said.

Typically, the overwhelming majority of school district bonds are passed. But last November, more school bonds on the ballot were rejected than passed for the first time since 2011.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify the tax bill increase associated with the propositions separate from the whole increase.