At the special called board meeting on February 15, the Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call a bond election that will be on the May 4 ballot. Registered voters residing within the Hempstead ISD boundaries will be asked to consider a $45.7 million bond referendum that would generate funding to address safety and security updates and aging facilities, such as replacements for roofs, electrical, and heating and air conditioning equipment.
The proposed projects touch every campus within our school district. The propositions also include infrastructure updates, a replacement campus for Hempstead Early Childhood, and improvements at Bobcat Stadium, including new synthetic turf field and track. The Board of Trustees has not gone to taxpayers for a bond issue since 2006.
The Hempstead ISD total tax rate is the lowest it has been in 20 years, at a total of $0.9513. The 2024 bond will result in a $0.13 tax rate increase to the school district tax rate. With the tax rate increase, Hempstead ISD will still have the lowest tax rate in comparison to all neighboring school districts in Waller County.
Recent legislation delivered the largest property tax cut in Texas history. The combination of compression and the $100,000 homestead exemption cut school district property taxes for homeowners across the state. Texas voters approved that proposal in November.
If voters approve the $45.7 million bond package in May, the estimated impact would be $15.57 per month for a home valued at $235,557, the average market value for a home in Hempstead ISD.
Disabled veterans or surviving spouses of a member of the U.S. armed services killed in the line of duty would not see an increase in taxes, even with the passing of the bond, if the disabled veteran was awarded 100 percent disability compensation due to a service-connected disability and a rating of 100 percent disabled or of individual unemployability to a total property tax exemption on the disabled veteran's residence homestead.
Property owners age 65 and older who have applied for and received the Over 65 homestead exemption will see NO TAX increase over their frozen dollar amount as a result of these bonds.
The May 2024 bond proposal is based on a recommendation from the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee, made up of parents, students, staff, and community members. These community members met over several months to review aging conditions, district finances and toured each district campus to help develop and prioritize the list of projects that are included in the bond package.
“It has been 18 years since we had a bond pass in Hempstead ISD. We are grateful for the work that our Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee has done to help identify the needs that this bond proposal will address for the students and staff we serve,” Board President, Connie Wawarofsky said.
The $45,720,000 proposal will be presented to the voters with two different propositions on the ballot.
Proposition A ($42,320,000) includes:
Replacement Campus for the Hempstead Early Childhood Education Center (at a site to be determined)
Cafeteria and Band Hall Addition at HHS
Auxiliary Gym Addition at HMS
Enclosed Connector to Cafeteria/Band Hall to HMS*
Enclosed Connector between all four buildings at HES*
Concession/Restroom Building at Baseball Field
HVAC Unit Replacements, Control Upgrades, Testing & Balance Districtwide
Roof Replacement at HMS
* An enclosed connector will close and connect one building to another to address safety and security.
Proposition B ($3,400,000) includes:
New Synthetic Turf Field & Track at Bobcat Stadium
“I am thankful for our community members and our Board of Trustees who spent many evenings dedicated to working together to prioritize facility needs and develop recommendations to update and secure our educational and athletic facilities,” Superintendent Herbert O’Neil said. “I believe our students and staff deserve safe and functional facilities.”
Any Hempstead ISD resident who is registered to vote may cast a ballot in this election. Voters will be asked to vote “for” or “against” each of the propositions. During Early Voting, April 22-30, voters may vote at any Early Voting Center in Waller County. On Election Day, Saturday, May 4, voters may vote at any Election Day Voting Center in Waller County.
Hempstead ISD will schedule informational meetings to share details and answer questions. Once those meetings are finalized, information will be shared through the district’s regular communication channels. Visit hempsteadisd.org/bond2024 for more information.