**Tyler ISD Board Calls for $446.2 Million Bond Election on May 4, Citing No Tax Rate Increase**
Tyler, TX – The Tyler Independent School District Board of Trustees has officially called for a $446.2 million bond election, Bond 2024, to be placed before voters on May 4. The unanimous decision came on February 12, 2024, following months of review and recommendations from a citizen committee.
The proposed bond is structured into three propositions designed to address critical district needs not covered by the 2017 bond.
Proposition A, the largest component at $296.8 million, focuses on district-wide safety and security upgrades, including controlled access points and increased camera surveillance. It also targets critical systems replacement, such as HVAC units that are 20 to 60 years old in some facilities. Instructional enhancements under Proposition A include the development of a new career and technical education center, renovations to the existing CTE space at the TISD Career & Technology Center, fine arts renovations for both Tyler High and Tyler Legacy, and various athletic facility upgrades.
Proposition B, totaling $128.5 million, is earmarked for the construction of a new elementary school. This new facility would replace Peete Elementary, which was originally built in 1956. A separate location for the new elementary campus has already been identified.
Proposition C, at $20.9 million, is dedicated entirely to technology infrastructure. This includes vital investments in servers, networks, classroom devices, and crucial cybersecurity measures to meet current educational and operational demands.
District officials emphasize that the Bond 2024 proposal will not require a tax rate increase. The current Interest & Sinking (I&S) tax rate is $0.2078 per $100 valuation, a rate the district states would be maintained. The I&S tax rate has reportedly decreased by 16 cents since 2019. Additionally, homeowners 65 and over with a homestead exemption in Smith County will continue to have their tax ceiling in place, meaning their school district taxes will not increase above their frozen amount.
The bond package is the result of extensive work by the Citizens Facilities Planning Committee (CFPC), which met from October 2023 through January 2024 to assess facility needs across the district. The CFPC presented its comprehensive recommendations to the Board on January 29, 2024, leading to the Board's decision two weeks later. The district highlights that these proposals aim to address needs beyond the scope of the 2017 bond, which primarily focused on high school improvements.
