The Eanes ISD board of trustees unanimously approved an order Feb. 25 to call a nearly $52.5 million bond referendum in the May elections. The bond measure comes on the heels of a failed $89.5 million bond proposal denied by voters in 2014. "We have listened to the Eanes community and truly appreciate the active participation from staff, parents and district residents throughout this process," EISD Superintendent Tom Leonard said in a news release. "Bond funds can lessen stress on the maintenance and operations budget, which funds salaries and benefits for our teachers and staff." The proposed bond which is expected to provide districtwide safety and health improvements, fix items and infrastructure in disrepair, and expand programming will not increase the current interest and sinking, or I&S, tax rate of $0.1725 per $100 of property valuation, according to the district. The bond would also free up enough of the budget to accelerate bond payments and pay off outstanding debt quickly, according to the district. Of the proposed $52,473,749 bond, about half, $26,457,485, would go toward facilities items, with the remaining amount split among technology, non-facilities items, a district operations center, Westlake High School projects, transportation, Eanes traffic flow and warehouse, and Hill Country and West Ridge middle school fine arts. The board reviewed the proposed projects during a series of public meetings, community forums and feedback from the failed 2014 bond. "We have spent 10 months gathering community feedback and insight and evaluating the items from the last bond," Board President Rob Hargett said. "This 2015 bond is a reflection of all that input and accounts for the critical needs of our schools." The board also held two bond metrics and community engagement subcommittee meetings as well as toured the district facilities before finalizing the projects list. The district estimates that during the next five years, pending bond approval, debt payments could be accelerated by an additional $9.5 million. The district has refinanced debt and accelerated principal payments during the past eight years, saving more than $6.5 million in interest over the life of bonds. Early voting for the bond begins April 27, and the election is May 9.