10 Facts About Katy ISD’s $459 Million Bond Referendum
1. Enrollment continues to grow. Since 2006, student enrollment has increased from 50,000 to 60,000 students. Projections indicate a continued enrollment increase at a rate of three to four percent per year, reaching more than 87,000 students by 2020.
2. It provides capacity for an additional 7,490 students. Bonds would fund the construction of three elementary, one junior high and one high school.
3. It addresses six of the district’s oldest campuses. This bond would fund comprehensive renovations at five of the district’s oldest campuses including Katy, Taylor, and Mayde Creek High Schools, as well as West Memorial and Mayde Creek Junior High Schools. It will also fund the construction of a 500 student K-5 replacement school for Wolfe Elementary.
4. It provides for expansion. This bond would fund the construction of additional classrooms at Raines High School, as well as expansion of the South Transportation center.
5. It addresses current facilities. This bond would fund more than 50 component replacement projects at many Katy ISD schools including items such as roof and building envelope projects; chiller replacements; kitchen renovations; main entry security; and Performing Art Center retrofits (a complete list of component replacement projects can be found at www.katyisd.org).
6. It funds technology items. Items including computer and printer retrofits; replacement servers and servers to accommodate growth; replacement of campus cabling; and additional core network and wireless infrastructure.
7. It funds the purchase of additional items to accommodate growth. Portables and buses would be purchased to address student enrollment growth.
8. It is projected that taxes will increase from the current $.40 rate to $.41 in September 2011 and then to $.44 in September 2012. For a homeowner, every $.01 increase in the tax rate equals a $10 per year increase for every $100,000 in taxable value.
Example:
| Average Market Value |
$198,271.00* |
| Less Homestead Exemption |
($15,000.00) |
| Equals Average Taxable Value |
$183,271.00 |
*Average value of a house located in KatyISD.
9. There is no tax increase for those 65 or older. The state freezes these taxes on resident homesteads the year a taxpayer turns 65, as long as the homeowner remains in the same residence and does not make major improvements.
10. Katy ISD is in a strong financial position to sell bonds.
The district’s bonds have AAA ratings from both Moody’s and Standard & Poor's and are supported by the Texas Permanent School Fund. The AAA rating is the highest rating assigned.
