A new bond: Friendswood ISD's bond proposal looks to maintain facilities and technology

A replacement campus, athletic facility improvements and technology upgrades are some of the items included in Friendswood ISD’s $165 million bond package, which will go before voters in November.

The bond—split into four propositions—is aimed at maintaining facilities and technology needs within the district, Superintendent Thad Roher said.

If approved, the bond proposal would raise the district’s tax rate by $0.16 per $100 valuation of a home—about $60 per month, or $720 annually, for a home with a taxable value of $450,000.

“Every student, every campus,” Roher said. “It’s not just money ... but the impact we’re making today for learners tomorrow.”

In a nutshell

This bond election is the first the district has called for since 2020. The 2020 bond allocated $127.2 million toward building a new elementary school, expanding and renovating existing campuses and upgrading technology across the district, according to 2020 bond documents.

The $165 million bond up for a vote this November was formed by FISD’s Citizens Advisory Committee, or CAC, through a series of meetings from February through April to discuss priorities. The committee was composed of community members, parents, students, teachers and district officials.

According to CAC documents, this bond will include some of the following projects:

• Westwood Elementary and Bales Intermediate replacement campus
• Agricultural center replacement
• Tax note refinancing
• Safety and security improvements

Petree compared the $165 million bond to the district’s entire maintenance and operations budget this year, which is $67 million.

“It’s a very small fraction of the whole ask for a long-term commitment for like a 30-year debt to pay for facilities,” she said.

What residents should know

The $165 million bond package includes a total tax rate increase of $0.16 per $100 valuation of a home, based on projected 2025 taxable values, Petree said.

An increase would occur due to the interest and sinking rate rising as a result of the district taking on more debt through the bond.

School tax rates consist of a combined total rate of the maintenance and operation and I&S rates, according to the Texas Education Agency.

I&S rates are used for debt payments that finance district facilities, such as bonds, according to the TEA

While an increase is imposed, the tax rate could vary depending on property value growth and interest rates, Petree said.

“If we have more growth next year, maybe we get a really low interest rate, which is what happened to us with the last bond. Then that $0.16 will vary,” she said. “It’s not solidified until the day of.”

The exact increase will vary by home value, meaning some homeowners will see higher or lower monthly costs depending on their property’s taxable value, officials said.

If approved, the increase would not go into effect until the next fiscal year, which would be FY 2026-27, documents show. FISD approved a lower tax rate for FY 2025-26 compared to FY 2024-25.

Put in perspective

Laura Hartlieb, a CAC member and FISD parent, supports the bond. She said the projects in it aim to prioritize the district’s needs. She pointed to aging campuses, such as Westwood Elementary, which opened in 1967, and Bales Intermediate, which opened in 1994.

“It’s a no-brainer, because we’re going to need to do [these projects] eventually anyway. We’re not asking for more than what other districts are doing. As a matter of fact, it’s extremely conservative compared to what other districts have done,” Hartlieb said.

Hartlieb said the projects will provide safer, more functional schools and that the tax impact for most homeowners would be similar to a routine monthly expense.

“[For a] $450,000 home, it’s $48 a month,” she said. “It’s literally one dinner out to provide tons of opportunities for our kids.”

Opponents, meanwhile, acknowledge the district’s facility needs but question how officials have managed taxpayer money in the past.

FISD resident John Scott said he opposes the bond, pointing to the district’s rising administrative costs and a lack of accountability in fund management.

Scott ran for a position on the FISD school board in 2024 and was unsuccessful in his bid.

Cost to the district

Officials said the $165 million bond builds on years of planning, including a 2019 plan that produced the $127.2 million bond in 2020.

According to unofficial data from the Texas Bond Review Board, FISD carries about $187 million in debt, equal to over $32,000 per average daily attendance, which reflects the student population. That level is similar to nearby districts.

“I’m not suggesting that they shouldn’t build a new school, or that they shouldn’t renovate or make modifications ... [but] I don’t think that we should be giving an ... increase in taxes to a governing body that can’t manage the funds that it has,” Scott said.

The bottom line

Though no timeline is set, Petree said projects could begin “right away” if the bond passes.

Early voting runs from Oct. 20-31, ahead of the Nov. 4 election, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s website.

If the bond fails, Roher said the district will continue to face challenges with aging facilities, as improvements would be delayed. He also noted FISD would most likely need to revisit the issue by bringing a similar funding proposal in the future.

“Nothing’s changed. It’s just five years older,” Roher said. “We want equitable facilities for all our kids, and this helps make that possible.”

Here are how the outcomes could play out longterm:

If approved:

• Work on approved projects begins right away
• Funding provided for facilities for at least 10 years
• Bond oversight committee formed to oversee bond projects

• FISD may return to voters in future with similar bond proposal
• FISD will review which facility and technology needs are most urgent
• Possible continued challenges with aging facilities, limited capacity in student programs