1. WHAT IS A BOND?

A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. All school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.

2. HOW CAN BOND FUNDS BE USED?

Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.

3. WHAT IS A BOND ELECTION?

School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as renovation to existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the District to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home.

4. HOW MUCH IN BONDS DOES THE DISTRTICT NEED TO SELL?

The estimated cost to complete all of the proposed projects is $282,400,000.  The proposal will be presented in two proposition. Proposition A is $278,500,000 for capital improvements and Proposition B is $3,900,000 for technology devices. 

5. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE URGENT NEEDS IF THIS BOND DOESN'T PASS? IT MAY BE FAR OFF, BUT IF RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS AREN'T DONE ON OLDER SCHOOLS IS THERE A RISK OF THEM BEING SHUT DOWN PUTTING A MUCH BIGGER STRAIN ON THE DISTRICT?

When bond funds are not made available for renovations and repairs the following challenges emerge: 1) costly emergency repairs may have to be funded out of the general operating budget and when the operating budget is tapped for repairs then other items in the operating budget will have to be cut 2) schools deteriorate and become less comfortable and less safe for students and staff 3) teachers and staff may decide to work elsewhere where conditions are more desirable. 

6. WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT ON SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE DISTRICT?

Homeowners 65 years of age and older will see no increase in their school property taxes as long as they have filed for their senior citizen homestead exemption.

7. HOW MUCH TEACHER INPUT WAS USED IN THE DESIGN OF SPACES?

Faculty and campus leadership are consulted throughout the planning, design and construction process. Designs are further informed by research into advances in teaching and learning. New ways of teaching and learning call for new spaces and vice versa. The cycle of feedback and training is ongoing to ensure spaces meet the needs of students and teachers and also to make sure students and teachers have the training and support they need to use the spaces as they are designed. 

8. UPON APPROVAL OF THE BOND REFERENDUM, IS THE ENTIRE AMOUNT ISSUED ALL AT ONCE?

No. The district will only issue bonds to cover the cost of projects at the time they are needed and approved by the School Board.

9. WHO DO WE CONTACT IF WE WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOND REFERENDUM? 

 Email webmaster@chisd.net or visit chisd.net/bond

10. WHAT WAS THE PROCESS IN DEVELOPING THIS BOND PACKAGE?

Campus and department leaders participated in small focus groups and one-on-one interviews to identify and submit facility-related items that they felt were needed and/or would enhance security or student experiences.  In the spring and summer of 2023, the Longhorn Futures Committee was tasked with prioritizing the suggested projects for a long-range plan. This committee was made up of a combination of Cedar Hill ISD staff, parents and residents. In February 2024, the Board voted to call for a $282.4 million bond election to include the priority projects identified by the Longhorn Futures Committee. 

1. IS CHISD IN A REASONABLE FINANCIAL SITUATION TO HAVE THE BEST BOND RATING TO ENSURE MAXIMUM FUNDS OBTAINED?

There are several factors that ensure Cedar Hill ISD can get good buying power and low interest rates from their bonds.

 - School districts are able to borrow money at lower, tax-exempt interest rates 

 - Texas school district bond issues are also eligible to receive the State Permanent School Fund Guarantee (“PSF”). This guarantee allows for the bonds to receive the highest credit rating of 'A’. 

 - With the PSF Guarantee, Cedar Hill ISD bonds will be priced at or near the lowest available interest rates at the time of issuance. 

2. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE TAX EXEMPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PROPERTY OWNERS?

Texas offers full or partial property tax exemptions for: Residence Homestead, Age 65 or Older or Disabled Persons, Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses of First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty. Most residents in Cedar Hill ISD receive the residence homestead exemption of $100,000 which reduces the market value of a home by $100,000. The reduced value after the Homestead Exemption is applied is called the taxable value, and that is the value that is used to determine the tax owed.  In November 2023 voters approved a ballot proposition that increased the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. That exemption means most Cedar Hill ISD taxpayers will have a lower tax bill this year.

3. HOW ARE FUNDS ALLOCATED AFTER THE BOND IS ACCEPTED?

There are specific project budgets that are created to form the total requested bond value. After a successful bond election, the District will purchase portions of the total bond value as they are needed for current projects. Every effort is made by CHISD, its architects, consultants, contractors, and vendors to work within the bond budgets originally established. Any funds that are not spent after all projects are delivered can be applied to additional construction projects, can be used to pay down existing debt sooner, or can be returned to the taxpayer by not purchasing bonds for that remainder.

4. SHOULD VOTERS APPROVE THE BOND PACKAGE, DOES THE DISTRICT HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT EFFICIENTLY?

Yes. Just like we did with past bond referendums, our team of financial professionals will keep a close eye on the spending approved by voters. Our best practices approach has helped Cedar Hill ISD earn the highest ranking from the state’s Financial Integrity Rating System.

1. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?

Any registered voter who lives within Cedar Hill ISD boundaries — and whose voter registration is based on their current CHISD residence — is eligible to vote in this bond election.

2. CAN I STILL REGISTER TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION?

The deadline to apply for voter registration is April 4 in order to vote in the May 4, 2024 election.

3. HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE?

Visit this website to check your registration status.