How was the bond proposal developed?
The Iraan-Sheffield ISD Board of Trustees has called for a May bond election with four propositions recommended by a 16-member diverse community planning committee. The planning committee met and studied demographics, educational programs, facility assessments, and District finances before making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
Why are teacher salaries not included in the bond?
By law, bond funds cannot be used for payroll expenses or any daily operational costs such as utilities, supplies, fuel, and insurance. Instead, bond funds can only be used for new buildings, additions and renovations, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment, or school buses.
How much will my taxes increase?
Please use the tax calculator below to enter your appraised home value to calculate your estimated maximum tax increase.
How is the district's tax rate configured?
A school district’s tax rate is comprised of two components or “buckets”. The first bucket is the Maintenance and Operations budget (M&O), which funds daily costs and recurring or consumable expenditures such as teacher and staff salaries, supplies, software and utilities. The second bucket is the Interest and Sinking budget (I&S), also known as Debt Service, and that is for longer-term capital improvements approved by voters through bond elections. I&S funds cannot by law be used to pay M&O expenses, which means that voter-approved bonds cannot be used to increase teacher salaries or pay rising costs for utilities and services.
Would my taxes go up if I am over 65 years old?
No. By law, if you receive an Age 65 or Older Exemption, your homestead tax rate cannot be raised above the frozen level unless you make significant improvements to your home. A significant improvement would be anything beyond normal maintenance or repair, such as building a swimming pool or adding a garage or game room.
I am over 65 years old. How do I make sure my taxes are frozen?
Under state law, if you have applied for and received the Age 65 Freeze on your homestead, your school taxes CANNOT be raised above their frozen level unless you make significant improvements or additions to your home. To apply for the Age 65 freeze, contact your county’s Central Appraisal District.
When and where can I vote?
Early voting takes place from April 21 to April 29, and you can cast a ballot at any voting location during this time. Election Day is Saturday, May 3. Visit the Pecos County Elections website for a list of polling locations.
Who can vote in this bond election?
Anyone at least 18 years of age and living within the boundaries of Iraan-Sheffield ISD is eligible to vote. You must be registered by April 3, 2025 in order to participate in this election.
How do I know if I'm registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration status at www.votetexas.gov.
If you need to update your address, you can simply fill out the change online.
Refunding M&O dollars - what does that mean?
The District has a Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Tax note that is scheduled to be paid off in 10 years. The approval of Proposition B on May 3rd means that Interest & Sinking (I&S) or debt service funds can be utilized for immediate repayment of the note. This would save ISCISD $1,820,078 on their operating budget.