Willis ISD Director of Communication Jamie Fails said after polls closed on May 4 the district was "thrilled" that Proposition A received voter approval.
"It's going to assist us with providing educational facilities for our students, specifically in the realm of expanding Willis High School to accommodate the growth we're experiencing as well as building a new transportation facility, which will relieve our current [facility]," she said. "We appreciate the community taking the time to vote and educating themselves."
Fails said while district officials were disappointed Propositions B, C and D did not win voter approval, they are celebrating the win. She said long-range planning in the district would continue as district officials seek alternate ways to meet the needs expressed in the failed propositions.
Updated 10:09 p.m. May 4
With all Montgomery County precincts reporting, Willis ISD voters have approved Proposition A of the total $218.1 million bond referendum, which includes $102.7 million for a Willis High School ninth grade expansion with parking lot upgrades and a new transportation center. Proposition A was approved by a vote of 2,350-1,868, meaning 55.71% of voters were in favor of the measure, and 44.29% were opposed.
Among the other propositions before voters May 4, voters rejected each one by a few percentage points. Proposition B failed with 2,208, or 52.53% of voters opposing a new athletic complex and stadium, and 1,995, or 47.47%, in favor of it. Proposition C, for an aquatic center, failed with 2,264 votes, or 53.97% of voters, opposing it, and 1,931, or 46.03% of voters, in favor of it. Finally Proposition D, for a student activity center, received 2,215 votes against, or 52.94%, and 1,969 votes in favor, or 47.06%.
All results are unofficial until canvassed.
District officials could not immediately be reached for a comment following the posting of the results on the Montgomery County Elections website.
Posted 7:30 p.m. May 4
With early and absentee voting results in for Willis ISD's May 4 bond election, voters so far are endorsing the district's first proposition for a ninth-grade expansion, but the propositions for an athletic complex, aquatic center and student activity center were lagging behind in the first round of voting results.
The results are in
A total of 1,688 voters, or 56.93% of those who voted in early and absentee voting, were in favor of Proposition A, which calls for $102.7 million for a Willis High School ninth-grade expansion with parking lot upgrades and a new transportation center. A total of 1,277 voters, or 43.07%, were opposed in early and absentee voting.
Proposition B, which asks voters to approve $68.8 million for an athletic complex and stadium with a community room, saw 1,525 voters, or 51.61%, opposed to the measure, and 1,430, or 48.39%, in favor.
Proposition C, which calls for $19.6 million for an aquatic center, was opposed by 1,569, or 53.19% of voters, while 1,381, or 46.81%, endorsed it among early and absentee voters.
Proposition D, which calls for $27 million for a student activity center, received 1,540 early and absentee votes against the measure, or 52.42% of voters, while 1,398 were in favor of it, or 47.58% of voters.
Visit communityimpact.com/voter-guide/election-results to see results from all local elections in your community. All results are unofficial until canvassed.
The background
Officials have said the maximum tax impact for all four propositions if they pass is $0.079, an increase from the current tax rate for the 2023-24 fiscal year of $1.0002 per $100 assessment. Officials said the tax rate for FY 2024-25 could increase to $1.0792 per $100 assessment if the entire bond package is passed.
The timeline
Community Impact previously reported if the bond is passed, the district anticipates the design phase to begin on all projects, except the aquatic center, in the summer or fall of this year.
The opening timeline for the projects was given as:
- Transportation center opening in spring 2026
- Multipurpose gymnasium opening in fall 2026
- Athletic complex, stadium and aquatic center opening in spring 2027
- The ninth-grade expansion opening in fall 2027
