Reprint from the Progress Times - September 14, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

La Joya ISD to hold bond election

La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) is one of the fastest growing school districts in the state of Texas. Facing overcrowding at many of its 32 schools, the district has had to construct 69 portable buildings to be used as classrooms. U.S. Census information shows a 109 percent increase in the population within LJISD from 1990 to 2000. If this growth rate continues, LJISD would have a population of more than 115,000 in 2010.

To accommodate this rapid growth and alleviate the existing overcrowding the La Joya ISD board of trustees is calling a bond election to help the district qualify for the Instructional Facilities Allotment (IFA).

The IFA is state aid available to property-poor school districts and is calculated based on student Average Daily Attendance (ADA). With La Joya ISD being the 20th poorest district in the state of Texas, it would qualify for a maximum IFA of $94 million.

The IFA, although primarily aid, does require that a district pitch in. School districts must first have a qualifying bond approved by voters as long as the bond is used for instructional facilities only. Once that is done the state pays 80 percent or more of the debt share, leaving the remaining 20 percent to be paid by the taxpayers.

The 2008 bond issue, if approved by voters, will consist of $30 million in 2004 bond issue cost overruns, $33 million in 2006 bond issue cost overruns, $27 million for proposed facilities in the district, $4 million for remodeling expenses and $9.6 million in what is termed "other IFA expenses."

To pay the 20 percent local debt share, the current tax rate will have to increase by 7.14 cents. With an issuance term of 30 years, a rate increase of 7.14 cents will create roughly $94 million. Homes valued at $25,000, after the Homestead Exemption of $15,000 leaving a taxable value of $10,000, will see a monthly increase of 60 cents or $7.14 based on $100 valuations. Homes valued at $150,000 would see a monthly increase of $8.03 or $96 a year.

A round of town meeting will be held at schools around the district from September 25 to October 18 to explain the bond issue to voters.

Early voting will begin October 22 and end November 2 and will be held from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at E.B. Reyna Elementary, Sam Fordyce Elementary and the La Joya ISD Board Room.

The actual election on Tuesday, November 6 will be held at the County Commissioner’s Precinct 3 offices at 724 Breyfogle Road, La Joya Housing Authority at 945 S. Leo Avenue and the Sullivan City Fire Station at 500 Cenizo, Sullivan City from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.