The Plano ISD board of trustees on Feb. 2 approved placing a $481 million bond package on the May 7 ballot. The bond package includes major renovations, new schools, a performing arts center and technological advancements. The trustees voted 6-1 in favor of calling the election. The bond package will be presented in a single proposition where citizens will vote “for” or “against” the entire package. Challenges the district staff, bond committee and trustees faced was to keep the tax rate from increasing and reduce district debt while making sure the bond packaged included enough funds to enhance PISD. PISD trustee Yoram Solomon cast the sole dissenting vote because the bond package will be voted on in a single proposition. Solomon said he would have liked to divide the package into multiple propositions in order to give voters more choice. “I am not objecting to any specific item on the bond,” Solomon said. “The only fact that I am objecting to is the single proposition. The only thing I was hoping for was the multi-proposition bond package. It is a matter of giving people a choice.” Trustee Carrolyn Moebius expressed her support for the proposed bond package in its single proposition form and said that the time was right for the school district to hold a bond election. “We haven’t had a bond election in eight years,” she said. Trustees appointed a task force in August 2015 that came up with a bond package recommendation of about $524 million. At a public hearing on Dec. 17, parents, teachers and students voiced their concerns and feedback regarding the proposed bond package. Several comments included a request for a performing arts center where PISD students will be able to perform and not have to travel out of Plano for concerts. Some parents and teachers suggested PISD’s bond program should invest in technological advances and education programs. In a special called meeting on Jan. 19, trustees decided to reduce the proposed bond package of $524 million by $43 million. To make up the $43 million difference, the board decided to borrow $16 million from the previously unused 2008 bond program. In addition, about $27.7 million will be moved from the capital fund to the general fund to pay for additional items not included in the $481 million bond package. The district's current tax rate is $1.43 per $100 of valuation, which is the second lowest among Collin County school districts. The last day to register to vote for the May 7 election is April 7. Early voting is April 25-30 and May 2-3.