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Informational Presentations
Residents are also encouraged to attend an informational presentation or engage with the district through one of its Facebook Live broadcasts. Dates will be announced soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about the Bond
What is a bond?
A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.
How can bond funds be used?
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 salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.
What is a bond election?
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.
If the bond election is successful, does the school district immediately incur the debt?
No. The bonds do not cost the district anything until they are sold. Voter approval is simply an authorization for the district to issue bonds. Bonds would be sold in the future as needed to fund the projects. It’s anticipated that the projects proposed in the 2021 bond could span approximately three years.
When was the last bond election in NISD?
The most recent bond election was in May 2021, which was approved by 55 percent of voters. The $737.5 million bond package funded five new schools, a significant renovation to Northwest High School, land purchases, capital improvements, technology devices, and more.
why is there another bond election so soon?
NISD is experiencing unprecedented residential growth which has resulted in an additional 6,180 students in the past five years. Northwest ISD is now considered the fastest-growing school district in DFW, and the May 2023 bond proposal is designed to accommodate an additional 8,400 students.
Where can i find exactly what’s proposed in this bond election?
Visit the Bond Proposal page to see a breakdown of each proposition, detailed project descriptions and what’s planned at each school.
Why are there three propositions on the ballot?
NISD is complying with state law that requires certain project types like stadium-related projects and technology devices to be separated out on different propositions.
Can I vote on all three Bond propositions?
Yes. Voters should record their vote in each of the three bond propositions on the ballot.
WHY ISN’T THE DISTRICT PROPOSING THE VATRE ON THE BALLOT AGAIN?
By law, a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) can only be held during the November General Election.
Questions about Taxes
what is nisd’s current tax rate?
NISD’s current Maintenance & Operations (M&O) Tax Rate is $0.8546 and its Interest & Sinking (I&S) Tax Rate is $0.40 for a total tax rate of $1.2746, the lowest it has been since 1993. Visit the Tax Info page to learn more about school taxes.
HOW WILL THE 2023 BOND PACKAGE AFFECT MY TAXES?
If all three propositions are approved, the NISD tax rate is expected to increase 1/10th of a penny. This would take the I&S portion of the tax rate from $0.420 to $0.421 (per $100 of home value). For a property valued at $500,000, the 1/10th of a penny increase would be less than $5 per year. Use the Tax Impact Calculator to see the impact for your home.
HOW CAN NISD AFFORD TO ISSUE BONDS WITHOUT only a 1/10th of a penny INCREASE TO THE TAX RATE?
NISD will be able to issue bonds with only a tenth of a penny change because of increased revenue from growth in the area, rising Taxable Assessed Values (set by county appraisal districts), and because the Board of Trustees has paid down existing debt.
Why am I paying more in taxes if the tax rate has decreased?
The amount of taxes paid by each taxpayer is calculated by multiplying the district tax rate by each $100 of taxable value of the property. Therefore, if the assessed taxable value on your home goes up, the amount you pay will go up even if the tax rate remains unchanged. The assessed value is set by your county appraisal office, not the school district.
WHAT IF I’M OVER 65 AND RECEIVE THE “SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION” AND MY HOME VALUE GOES UP? WILL MY SCHOOL TAXES INCREASE?
No. According to state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older cannot be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65 – regardless of changes in tax rate or property value – unless significant improvements are made to the home. Normal repairs, maintenance and the economic impact of the market cannot increase the amount of taxes you will pay once a tax ceiling is in place on that homestead.
Questions about Voting
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?
Any registered voter who lives within the NISD boundaries — and whose voter registration is based on their current NISD residence — is eligible to vote in this bond election.
CAN I STILL REGISTER TO VOTE IN TIME FOR THIS ELECTION?
The deadline to apply for voter registration is April 6 in order to vote in the May 6, 2023 election.
How do I know if I am registered?
Visit this website to check your registration status.
where can I vote?
You must vote at a polling location in the county where you reside. Find your polling location on the Voting Information page.