Bonds for Parker Country transportation, Graford, Santo, Poolville schools headline Nov. 7 ballot

Oct. 17—WEATHERFORD — The Nov. 7 ballot will include a transportation bond proposition aimed at improving traffic congestion and safety.

Parker County commissioners in August unanimously called for the bond election, with an amount not to exceed $130 million.

"This is unique from the other two bonds ... in that it's not one project, it accounts for excessive traffic on existing roads and also looks to plan for the future with expansion of Interstate 20," County Judge Pat Deen said. "This bond is more global in scope, and if you look at the inflation rate, spending those dollars today will save taxpayers money over time."

County leaders noted matching funds in the same amount, if not more, would more than likely be available through partnerships with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Department of Transportation.

In terms of financial impact on residents, the bond is projected to have a roughly two-cent increase to the county's interest and sinking rate.

Highlighted projects in Precinct 1 include road extensions for Hutcheson and Church; reconstruction of Midway, W.N. Woody and Thomas; realignment of Veal Station and Farm-to-Market 51; and safety improvements to Old Agnes and State Highway 199.

Key items in Precinct 2 are the widening of Oakridge Drive; realignment of Johnson Bend/Green Acres; extension of Pojo Road and FM 730; traffic signal at the intersection of Old Garner; adding turn lanes at SH 199 and Poolville Cutoff, and FM 920 and Willow Creek; and a bridge for Ric Williamson Memorial Highway and U.S. 180.

Precinct 3 projects include the widening of Ric Williamson; adding a bridge at Ric Williamson and U.S. 180; installing frontage roads and ramps from S. Bowie to Ric Williamson and Dennis to Ric Williamson; new ramps at Bethel and Tin Top and road extension of B.B. Fielder.

Identified projects in Precinct 4 are the reconstruction/widening of Old Bankhead Highway; reconstruction of Kelly Road and other improvements in Aledo; the widening of Old Weatherford Road and FM 730; a bridge on Old Bankhead and adding turn lanes to FM 5 and Old Bankhead Drive.

The $130 million is a breakdown of precinct projects ($88 million), discretionary projects ($15 million) and partnership projects with COG and/or TxDOT at $27 million.

The total 35 projects would be divided up between county (15) and city (12), with eight projects to be on-system with TxDOT.

State and local officials have noted the booming growth that has contributed to infrastructure challenges. From 2010 to 2022, Parker County grew more than 34%, and is ranked No. 6 in the nation as the fastest-growing county.

More information can be found at https://www.parkercountybond.com/.

Voters in two Palo Pinto County school districts will decide on large bond packages on Nov. 7 in their growing ISDs.

Superintendents in Santo and Graford ISDs both stress that the time is right for respective $27 million and $85 million proposals.

There are two main reasons for that, and one is also on that November ballot. Proposition 4 asks voters to raise the property tax homestead's exemption from from $40,000 to $100,000.

"I don't think there's a taxpayer anywhere that wants to see their tax rate go up," Santo ISD Superintendent Greg Gilbert said. "But Proposition 4 puts an interesting spin on it."

Gilbert said the tax rate is estimated at $1.10 if the bond passes. With the higher exemption on a primary residence, though, taxpayers would see a lower tax bill next year than they are paying this year under a 94-cent tax rate.

The second reason is a potentially short-term boost in state funds going to public education. Lawmakers enacted the infusion using part of a $32 billion surplus they applied to school funding in the new two-year state budget.

The districts' respective bond proposals will be on ballots throughout Palo Pinto and Erath counties under countywide voting.

That means voters in the two districts can vote at any of the 11 polls in the county on Election day — and either of the early voting sites.

Early voting begins Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 3 (except Oct. 28-29) at the Courthouse Annex in Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto Methodist Church in the county seat.

Poolville ISD bond

Voters within the Poolville school district will have the opportunity to cast their approval or denial of a proposed $45 million bond to address enrollment growth in the upcoming Nov. 7 election.

The bulk will cover the cost for a new campus for grades PreK through second graders, which would eventually be expanded to include third-fifth grade in the future.

Poolville ISD is expected to increase to over 1,100 students by 2031-32. Currently, the elementary campus and junior high are over their functional capacity by 56 and 18 students, respectively, and the high school will be over functional capacity within this school year. The elementary facility alone housed 386 students as of the end of August, a number greater than junior high and high school combined.

A piece of land has already been earmarked for the future project north of downtown at the Parker/Wise County line. That land is privately owned and is already set up with coop water services. It would also take a majority of vehicle traffic out of town, Haecker said. The proposed bond amount includes money allocated for land purchase should the school board choose to move forward.

Also included in the package are additions to the high school, such as more classrooms and CTE improvements, and renovations to the junior high, like adding air conditioning to the gym.

If approved in November, the estimated impact would be a $10 per month increase over the 2022-23 tax rate for a home with a taxable value of $300,000.

Based on the projected new homestead exemption amount of $100,000, the impact on a home with the taxable value of $240,000 ($340,000 home value) would be $8 per month. There will be no tax impact for residents 65 and older who have filed for exemption.

Detailed information about the Poolville ISD bond, including a tax impact calculator, FAQs and more, can be found at poolvillebond.com.

Santo's proposal

Gilbert reported Friday the district is using social media and town halls to spread the word about its $27 million bond.

The need is based on demographers' work showing district growth at 7 percent a year. It was closer to 10 percent last year, Gilbert said.

Santo trustees hope to remake the district, on its existing footprint, in three phases with the one bond.

The first stage will build a new academic wing on the secondary campus. Next, a multi-purpose gym would be attached to the new secondary wing.

Once the old gym is vacated, it will be converted into a cafetorium.

Utility and parking upgrades are planned, plus a minor expansion of the ag facility. Also, the bus facility will convert to a one-act play theater in black box format.

The transportation and maintenance hub will move to the former Ferti-Tex in Santo. That property already has been purchased.

Gilbert said two of three videos on the bond are out now with a third on on its way. Those can be viewed on Facebook, Instragram and YouTube.

Santo trustees opted for an aggressive, 15-year payback span to keep interest rates low, Gilbert added.

The district has no debt now, having paid off a 2003 bond, for $3.8 million, in 2017.

If voters reject the bond, Gilbert said the district will " ...continue to educate kids at a high level. Our next opportunity for a bond issue will be November a year away. Another consideration is moving in more portable buildings."

He finally emphasized the cost of growth will only increase given a long-running trend in construction costs. Those hovered around $100 a square foot in 2003.

"We are right now having to estimate $500 a square foot," he said. "And the projection is, to look two and three years out, at $600 a square foot."

Graford's proposal

Graford Superintendent Brandon Perry makes the same points in support of his district's $85 million bond — the timing is right, given the state funding and homeowners exemption increases.

The new debt is expected to add 15.5 cents to the tax rate. Perry said that won't affect taxpayers 65 or older who have homestead exemptions.

Graford ISD has not leveled a tax increase since a nickel hike in 2013-14. It's rate has dropped a penny or more every school year since 2018-19.

Residents also can use an "impact calculator" on a webpage dedicated to the proposal, at grafordisdbond.com to learn what their tax bill will look like under the proposal.

The $85 million bond would build a new secondary campus and a career/technology center.

Student population growth fuels the need to build, from 316 pupils last year to 338 now. Templeton Demographics predicts 2.5 percent to 3 percent annual growth for the coming decade, Perry said.

He also notes the district already owns 60 acres on which to build the new campus, which will have room for continued growth with a 700-student capacity.

Graford now houses all grades on a single site, where the older core dates to Works Progress Administration work during the Depression.

"Growth is coming," Perry said in a recent interview. "And we've got aging facilities."

Perry said rainwater collection will be built into the new campus, as drought continues at odds with continued local population growth.

Past bonds, Perry said, have attached more construction onto that old core.

That core, today's elementary school, also will see renovations. Those include gutting and converting an interior area into a secured playground.

The new secondary campus will have an emergency shelter and competition gym.

A new ag barn and show arena also are included in the package.

Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 23, and runs through Friday, Nov. 3.

During early voting, voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote.

Nov. 7 is Election Day.Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.