As school districts experience growth or see a need to upgrade aging facilities, many choose to fund these projects by pursuing bond funding. A bond referendum requires voter approval before a district can issue the bonds. Districts may also fund projects using the fund balance, which is unspent money not designated for expenses. Many school and government organizations use fund balances for capital projects, which include new construction, renovations or expansions.

Although Pflugerville and Round Rock ISDs are in a high-growth period, Austin ISD is facing different challenges. Some of its schools, mostly in the Northwest Austin area, are over capacity, and others are under capacity. Other campuses are in need of being updated for 21st-century learning models. The district’s 2017 bond is funding expansion and modernization improvements. RRISD’s 2017 bond was not approved by voters, so the district is regrouping to pursue another bond in the next year. PfISD has not yet said when it would pursue another bond.

Read more about school construction in our March front-page story here.