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Fiscal Information

Keller ISD's school tax rate is the lowest it has been since 1988, and this bond does not change that. The tax rate, the only part of your school tax bill the district controls, would remain the same whether or not these propositions pass.

Tax Rate History for Keller ISD 1988-2025

All five propositions can be funded with the Keller ISD existing tax rate. Construction and equipment costs have been rising by at least 6% per year, and district projections estimate that delaying this bond could cost taxpayers about $50 million.

  • State law requires the ballot to describe each proposition as a "property tax increase" because the bonds are repaid using property tax revenue, even though the district's tax rate itself does not change.
  • Bond funds are not subject to recapture by the state, so 100% of every bond dollar stays in Keller ISD and can be used for the projects in this bond package.
  • Keller ISD's 2019 bond program stayed within budget despite economic disruptions during COVID-19 and all of its projects are completed.

How Bonds Work

A school bond election asks voters for permission to sell bonds to investors to raise capital for specific projects, such as building new schools or renovating existing facilities. It works much like a homeowner taking out a mortgage to pay for a house and then paying it back over time. Bond funds can only be used for capital projects, meaning things that last many years. They cannot be used for daily expenses such as teacher salaries, utilities, supplies, or academic programs.

Bonds are the mechanism created by the Texas legislature for school districts to address capital needs, since the state does not provide direct funding to replace or modernize school buildings. Because they require voter approval and are limited to specific, disclosed projects, bonds also build in stakeholder input, public review, and local control over how the money is spent.

Operating Fund vs. Debt Service Fund

Texas school district finances are divided into separate funds. The General Operating Fund, known as Maintenance and Operations or M&O, pays for the day-to-day operation of schools, including salaries, utilities, supplies, and fuel costs. The Debt Service Fund, known as Interest and Sinking or I&S, is used to repay bond debt that funds new construction, renovations, HVAC systems, roofing, and technology.

When district infrastructure ages or fails, the cost of repairing or maintaining it currently comes out of the M&O fund, the same fund used to pay teachers and fund student programming. Replacing aging systems such as HVAC, plumbing, and electrical through bond funding could reduce pressure on the operating fund and free more resources for students and staff. 

Proposition Amounts

Pie chart of propositions and corresponding percentage.

Proposition A - $756,300,896
Maintenance, repairs, and renovations at 34 campuses and facilities, including roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, code compliance, and safety systems, plus a partial rebuild of Keller Middle School.

Proposition B - $28,000,000
Devices for students and staff.

Proposition C - $8,867,510
Natatorium system repairs, including water filtration, dehumidifier, and HVAC operations.

Proposition D - $11,025,446
Athletic Complex site repairs, renovation of the Keller High School Field House, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing repairs at these facilities.

Proposition E - $23,913,963
District-wide turf projects at Keller ISD middle schools and high school baseball and softball fields, including three middle school fields currently unusable for competition.