Bond Election Calls for $198 Million Dollars for Lubbock Schools

To the over taxed taxpayer, it seems impossible to believe that a school system can get into additional debt to the tune of $198 million dollars and not have to raise the tax rate.
Yet the Lubbock Independent School District (LISD) is adamant that this will be the case if a proposed bond election is approved by voters on November 2.
The bond election is the brainchild of a committee comprised of 30 Lubbock citizens appointed by the school board.
The proposal calls for $106 million for “School and Academic Improvements; $39 million for “Arts and Athletics”; $25 million for “Safety and Security”; and $28 million for “Technology”.
In an effort to inform readers about the election, we sent questions to District 1 School Board member Mario Ybarra and LISD Superintendent Karen Garza. We felt that it was important to get the viewpoint of the person who represents the parent’s voice on the board, and have included the superintendent’s responses as well to better inform our readers.

Q: LISD has said that passage of the bond election will not increase taxes; how is that possible; how will the debt on bonds be repaid?
Ybarra: The reason we are able to pass a bond without raising the taxes is because this board and previous boards have authorized the district to make debt payments at a faster pace than required by paying additional principal each year. The $0.195 I&S tax rate generates sufficient revenue to cover debt payments on the current bond as well as the $198 million proposed in the bond.
Garza: Should the $198 M bond package pass, it will never have an impact on the tax rate – ever! The tax rate will remain .195 for debt service with a ...