Lamar CISD officials reflect on the 2025 bond passage, failed proposition

Three of the four propositions that LCISD officials placed on the ballot this November were passed, although the Traylor Stadium repairs priced at $26.5 million was denied with only 46.7% for the proposition, Community Impact reported.

Previously, Nivens had said that the repairs on the district’s sole stadium were necessary due to its infrastructure that dates back to 1965.

Nivens attributed the rejection to the current economic climate, noting that voters were motivated by financial caution. He said he understands the fear of a rising tax rate, although the district proposed the bond after adopting a flat tax rate for the third year that has decreased by nearly 25 cents per $100 in taxable property value since 2017.

"People are voting with their pocketbooks," he said. “The fear of being taxed out of your home is a very real thing for many residents."

Moving forward

Nivens said that as long as the board determines that the stadium repairs are necessary on the following bond cycle, it's his “job to make sure it happens.”

In the future, he said district leadership plans to better communicate the stadium's role as a "multipurpose" venue—supporting Special Olympics to dance competitions—rather than just a sports field to secure future support for repairs.

In the meantime, the district plans to expand the stadium at Tomas High in Richmond to accommodate at least 4,500 seats, which Nivens previously described as a “safer,” though smaller, alternative to Traylor Stadium’s reduced 6,000-seat capacity.