Lamar Consolidated ISD in early August called for a bond election in November. The $240.6 million package includes several projects for new schools, facility upgrades and improved services.

"Lamar CISD is on a three-year bond cycle, meaning based on growth—both in the number of students and in the tax base—we will plan on having a bond election every three years," Superintendent Thomas Randle said. "That schedule allows us to manage the growth, plan at a steady pace and avoid a sudden large increase in taxes to pay for new buildings and additional employees."

An estimated 11 campuses will be at or over capacity this school year, Randle said. In an effort to address the issue, district officials are planning for 12 additional campuses in coming years. District officials estimate that by 2018, LCISD will have 18 new schools and more than 20 new schools by 2023.

"Our practice has been to add new campuses only as we need them," Randle said.

More than 1,000 additional students were enrolled in LCISD schools this year. With more than 30,000 homes planned for LCISD's service area in the next 10 years, district officials project that the school district will reach an enrollment of more than 45,000 students by 2023.

To address student growth, the bond package includes five new elementary schools, a new middle school, shell space for a new high school and the purchase and development of several land sites. Other projects that address growth include transportation and technology upgrades, a new support services center and the construction of a satellite agricultural barn.

Facility improvements include upgrades to the district's food service, improvements to the baseball facilities at Foster and Terry high schools and foundation repair at Pink Elementary.

LCISD's existing bonds have all been sold, said Jill Ludwig, chief financial officer with the district. Outstanding bonds from previous elections will require a $0.015 tax rate increase, which will be implemented at an 8 percent growth rate over the next four years. If approved by voters, the 2014 bond package would require an additional $0.04 hike in the debt service tax rate, bringing the total to $0.055 over the next four years.

The tax rate increase will cost the average homeowner with a taxable value of $181,727 about $8.33 per month, or about $100 annually, according to the district's figures.

"If property values grow at a higher rate, there will be less of an impact on the tax rate," Ludwig said. "Based on Lamar CISD's 2014 growth rate of 8 percent, visible growth in the area and neighboring districts' value increases in 2014 approaching 13.5 percent, we believe growth rates in excess of 10 percent are possible under a best-case scenario."

LCISD operates 38 campuses that serve more than 28,000 students. The district covers 385 square miles across 14 municipalities—about 43 percent of Fort Bend County—and employs more than 4,500 teachers and staff. LCISD is the seventh fastest-growing school district in the state, Randle said.