**Tyler ISD $198 Million Bond Proposal Heads to May 6 Vote**
Tyler, TX – Voters in the Tyler Independent School District are preparing to cast their ballots on a $198 million bond proposal on Saturday, May 6. The comprehensive plan, developed with community input, aims to address aging facilities, accommodate growth, and enhance safety and technology across the district without an increase to the district's tax rate.
Early voting for the bond election begins on Monday, April 24, and runs through Tuesday, May 2. Residents can vote at designated polling locations throughout Tyler.
The bond is divided into two propositions:
**Proposition A: $190.5 Million for Facilities and Infrastructure**
The larger of the two propositions, Proposition A, allocates funds for a new high school, referred to as a "legacy campus," to accommodate the district's growing student population. It also includes extensive renovations and expansions at numerous existing campuses, including Peete, Caldwell, Rice, Clark, Bell, Boulter, Hubbard, Moore, Orr, Owens, Ramey, and Reaves. District-wide safety and security upgrades, investments in technology infrastructure, and the purchase of new buses are also covered under this proposition.
**Proposition B: $7.4 Million for Athletic Field Upgrades**
Proposition B focuses specifically on athletic facilities. If approved, these funds would be used to renovate the baseball and softball fields at both Tyler Legacy High School and Tyler High School.
A key aspect of the bond proposal is its projected impact on local property taxes. Tyler ISD officials state that the passage of the $198 million bond will not require an increase in the district's total tax rate. This is attributed to expiring debt from previous bonds and continued growth in the district's tax base. The total tax rate, combining interest and sinking (I&S) and maintenance and operations (M&O) components, is projected to remain at $1.1746 per $100 valuation, with the I&S rate at $0.2354 and the M&O rate at $0.9392. District officials also note that the previous bond approved in 2017 did not result in a tax rate increase.
The bond development process began in August 2022 with the formation of a Citizens' Facilities Task Force, comprising approximately 40 community members. This task force conducted extensive reviews and presented its recommendations to the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees in November 2022. The Board officially called for the bond election in February 2023.
For detailed information regarding the 2023 bond proposal, including project specifics, voting locations, and tax impact analyses, residents are encouraged to visit the official district website at TylerISD.org/Bond2023.
