The Lake Travis ISD board of trustees unanimously approved Tuesday a bond election totaling $253 million to be held Nov. 7.

“The $253 million bond can be done within the capacity of our current tax structure, where the tax rate would remain at the current rate of $1.4075 [per $100 valuation],”said Johnny Hill, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, financial and auxiliary services.

The amount approved by the board was $1.3 million higher than the number proposed by the bond committee at last month's board meeting due to the passage of Senate Bill 693, which requires districts to add seat belts to buses purchased after Sept. 1, he said. If the bond is approved, the $1.3 million will retrofit the district's existing buses with seat belts and cover the difference to include seat belts in buses purchased through the bond, Hill said.

“We are obligated to meet the requirements of this new law,” Superintendent Brad Lancaster said at the meeting. “We are lucky enough to have the advantage of an upcoming bond election to address this issue.”

Early voting for the election is scheduled to take place from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3.