The package for the large North Texas district consisted of four proposals to be used for “multiple new schools, replacement schools, renovations, and other updates to address growth, capital improvements, and programs throughout the district,” according to the district’s bond election website.
All five bond proposals and the tax rate increase failed by double-digit margins.
Proposal A, the largest package totaling $937,702,000 was defeated by a vote of 40 percent in favor and 60 percent against.
The district also had a property tax rate increase on the ballot, which asked voters to approve an increase from the current rate of $1.42 to $1.4663 per $100 valuation.
The property tax rate election was defeated by a 28-point margin, with 64 percent of votes cast against it.
Many residents made comments on the district’s Facebook page in response to the bond package defeat.
Those who were pleased with the result seemed to indicate that the timing of the tax increase and size of the bond package made it unpalatable to district residents.
Taylor Harrington, a resident of Northwest ISD with three children in the school district, opposed the bonds. “It is unfortunate because of the growth rate in the area, the school district does need more schools. However, the $1 billion price tag combined with rising property values was just too much for the citizens,” he told The Texan.
The proponents of the bond package were disappointed and worried that the district will suffer from overcrowded classrooms and insufficient facilities without the bond money.
Northwest ISD is a rapidly growing district encompassing 234 square miles and serving students from several small communities in North Texas, including Justin, Haslet, and Trophy Club and portions of other larger communities including Fort Worth, Keller, and Flower Mound.
Officials predict a yearly growth rate of about four percent, which will bring over 6,000 new students into the district in the next five years.
A $399 million bond package was passed by the district’s voters in 2017.
Northwest ISD did not reply to The Texan’s request for comment by the time of publishing.
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Kim Roberts
Kim Roberts is a regional reporter for the Texan in the DFW metroplex area where she has lived for over twenty years. She has a Juris Doctor from Baylor University Law School and a Bachelor's in government from Angelo State University. In her free time, Kim home schools her daughter and coaches high school extemporaneous speaking and apologetics. She has been happily married to her husband for 23 years, has three wonderful children, and two dogs.
