Pflugerville voters to weigh district bond proposal, 2 other measures. Here's what you need to know.

Fernanda Figueroa, Austin American-Statesman
·6 min read

Voters will consider in the coming weeks whether to approve a $367.7 million bond package from the Pflugerville school district.

They also will consider a voter approval tax ratification election to approve four additional pennies to the district's maintenance and operations tax rate, and an attendance credit election that would allow the district to make mandatory recapture payments to the state due to the dramatic increase in its property tax wealth.

Early voting begins Oct. 24 and runs through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.

During early voting, voters can cast a ballot at any polling location. You can look up locations at teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov/MVP/mvp.do beginning Oct. 22 by entering your name, county, date of birth and ZIP code. Hours of operation vary by location.

Most counties in Central Texas — including Travis and Williamson counties — allow you to vote at any polling location on Election Day. Polling locations are open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Election Day.

District officials said that although ballot language says there will be a tax increase, the actual tax rate homeowners will pay will decrease by 12 cents if the tax ratification is approved, and 16 cents if it fails. Neither the bond nor the attendance credit election will have an impact on this year's tax rate, district officials said.

More:Here is what you need to know about casting your ballot in Pflugerville

Bond package

The $367.7 million bond package is divided into six propositions, C through H, that voters will see on their ballot in November.

The six propositions are:

  • Proposition C: $190 million for safety, land, building renovations and infrastructure;

  • Proposition D: $54 million for devices, network security and infrastructure;

  • Propositions E: $3 million for performing arts renovations and upgrades;

  • Proposition F: $400,000 for stadium renovations and upgrades;

  • Proposition G: $76 million for a career and technology education center;

  • Proposition H: $43.92 million for teacher housing

If approved, the package would make safety and security improvements throughout the district, repair maintenance deficiencies and make technology upgrades and improvements to stadiums and at the Performing Arts Center. It also would fund teacher housing.

Pflugerville district officials said the bond package will help accommodate safety and security needs, growth in student enrollment, aging conditions, evolving student programs and equity across campuses.

The largest piece of the package, Proposition C, is valued at $190 million and would fund district-wide safety and security upgrades, renovations to multiple campuses, including Mott and Pflugerville elementaries, Dessau Middle School and all high school campuses. The proposition also would fund the purchase of land for future projects.

Proposition H would provide 100 units of affordable housing on 6 to 10 acres of land that would only be available for teachers.

Superintendent Doug Killian, who proposed the proposition, said this is another way to attract and retain teachers, especially from out of the Central Texas area, as the cost of living here has become unaffordable.

"This is not a new idea, it's just a new idea for this part of the state," he said.

Killian has said that if the proposition is approved district still would have to work out the selection process of who would live there.

"With the affordability of our communities in the Austin metroplex area, I don't see how we can't do something," Killian said in August.

The bond is not expected to increase the district's debt service tax rate, said spokesperson Tamra Spence.

VATRE and ACE

Voters will see the voter approval tax ratification election, or VATRE, as Proposition B on their ballot.

In August, the school board adopted a proposed tax rate of $1.264 per $100 home valuation for the 2022-23 school year. With that tax rate, district officials said, property owners will see a $161.81 tax increase per $100 valuation because of a rise in home values.

This year's tax rate is lower than last year's rate of $1.388. The lower rate would allow for the district to use "golden and copper pennies" — funds that would not be subject to recapture and bring more money for the district, Land has said.

The rate will result in a $21.37% increase in tax revenue for an approximate additional $38 million for the district.

District officials said the VOTRE is needed as revenue from the proposed tax rate exceeds what the state allows through Senate Bill 2. Senate Bill 2 does not allow property revenue to exceed 3.5% from revenue from the previous year.

If approved, the VATRE will allow for four additional pennies to be added to the maintenance and operations tax rate. Additionally if the VATRE passes, voters will see a 12 cent decrease on their overall tax rate, which will result in an additional $6.9 million in revenue for the district.

If it fails, voters will see a 16-cent decrease in their tax rate.

The maintenance and operations budget is used for teacher and staff, salaries, books, classrooms supplies, utilities, educational resources, custodial and insurance, according to the district's website.

The district proposed a VATRE last year, but it was defeated by voters.

The attendance credit election, or ACE, is a required one-time election that will ask voters to allow the district to make its recapture payments through the purchase of attendance credit.

The election will help the district offset an anticipated $11 million in recapture payments to the state. District officials said the election is needed because the amount of recapture the district is expected to pay is greater than the state aid the district will receive.

"Due to the increase in property values seen in Central Texas,Pflugerville ISD is now deemed a property-wealthy district by state standards and is required to send funds back to the state through the state funding system commonly called, Robin Hood," according to the district website.

If passed, the district will be able to make its recapture payments. If it does not pass, officials said, the Texas Education Agency will identify a portion of land within the district to detach and send to another district to reduce the district's value.

Any students living in this annexed area will attend the new school district and the detached property will be taxed by the new school district.

At this time, district officials do not know which portion of land could be chosen by TEA for detachment, district officials said.

To learn more about the three measures, visit pfisd.net/election2022.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pflugerville to vote on three school district measures.