The law provides that a school district must hold an election and get permission from voters to sell bonds and to levy taxes to pay for them. Bonds are sold to provide funding for capital improvements that last for a number of years. Such investments are too large to be included in annual operating budgets. Voters authorize the school district to sell and repay bonds for making major capital improvements. School boards can only levy Interesting and Sinking (I&S) taxes in the amount necessary to repay the bonds. Therefore, if the amount needed to pay the bonds is less, the district taxes less.

1. The Alief ISD Board of Trustees called for an election.
2. If the bonds are approved by voters, the bonds are then sold to investors.
3. The proceeds are used for approved capital projects.
4. The tax rate is set in two parts: Maintenance & Operations and Interesting & Sinking.

Bond money may be used for new schools and facilities, expansion and renovations of existing facilities, furniture, technology, equipment, buses, and new sites. Bond money can only be used for capital improvements and related costs.

Bond money cannot be used for employee salaries, utilities, and other operating expenses.

The Alief ISD Board of Trustees approved a recommendation from the Community Bond Steering Committee to call a $541.7 million bond referendum that, if passed, would address district needs and would provide an equitable education to all students. Alief ISD is currently in its sixth and final year of the 2015-2021 bond referendum.

The combined total of the four propositions is $541,700,00 and includes the following:

• Proposition A (General Construction) = $482,585,000
• Proposition B (Other Recreational Facilities) = $9,095,000
• Proposition C (Crump Stadium Upgrades and Maintenance) = $19,430,000
• Proposition D (Technology Equipment) = $30,590,000

Projects across the four propositions would benefit all Alief ISD students. Some of those projects include:

• Rebuilding of two elementary schools
• Relocation and rebuilding of the Alief ISD Agriculture Science Center (“Ag Barn”)
• Safety and security enhancements
• School bus replacements and updates
• Devices for students and staff
• Crump Stadium turf replacement and track resurfacing
• Resurfacing tennis courts, baseball fields, and softball fields
• Fine Arts equipment upgrade

If approved, it is projected that Alief ISD tax-payers will see a 6-cent tax rate increase in their property taxes over the next seven years. This gradual seven-year increase might ultimately cost the average Alief homeowner who has a $100,000 home an increase of $3.75 per month or $45 per year. Changes in property value also impact annual tax bills.

If you are 65 or older, your property taxes are not impacted. Property taxes are not affected by a rate increase for residents 65 years or older and residents who are disabled if the appropriate homestead exemptions are filed with the Harris County Appraisal District.

The 2021 Bond Steering Committee, which is made up of Alief ISD parents, community members, and district employees, was formed with Alief ISD Board of Trustees approval in November 2020. The committee met between January 2021 and July 2021. 

During the bond steering process, Alief ISD brought facility needs assessment results and district and campus leadership requests to the 2021 Bond Steering Committee. Based on the list of requested projects, the steering committee learned more about the district’s needs, asked questions, deliberated, and voted on the 2021 bond projects. Based on the votes, the committee proposed the bond package to the Alief ISD Board of Trustees. You can learn more about the 2021 Bond Steering Committee’s work at https://www.aliefisd.net/bondsteering.

The bonds may be sold as early as 45-60 days after the passage of a bond election. The typical process includes a design work phase in which architects design the school and conduct a construction bid process, which may take up to 12 months to complete.

Funding for public schools in Texas comes from three main sources: local property taxes, state funds, and federal funds. The majority of funding comes from local property taxes, which comprises two tax rates: Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate and Interesting and Sinking (I&S) tax rate.

The M&O tax rate funds general daily district operations. 

Funds generated from the I&S tax rate, also called the debt service tax rate, pay off the debt of school bonds. School bonds are issued as funds are needed for other approved projects like new construction and renovations, purchase of school buses, and technology infrastructure improvements.

The last bond referendum was in 2015, and 2021 is the sixth year of the last bond. The 2015 Bond Referendum was the district’s first since 2003.

The 2015 Bond was $341,000,000 and included the following projects:

• Center for Advanced Careers
• Center for Talent Development
• Pre-K Centers for Full-Day Pre-K
• Safety Vestibules
• Reception Areas
• School Bus Replacements
• Elementary School Entry Canopies
• Middle School Gym Additions
• H.S. Field House Weight Rooms
• School maintenance and upkeep such as HVAC/carpet/roofs
• Outley Elementary Addition
• Elsik H.S. Softball Competition Field
• Kerr H.S. Fine Arts Addition
• Youens Elementary Library Expansion

Alief ISD is responsible for sharing information with voters about the proposed bond package so that the community can make an informed decision at the polls.

If the voters do not approve the 2021 Bond, the district would be unable to fund the new construction and the facility or equipment upgrades.

You can learn more about the Alief ISD 2021 Bond, including how it impacts specific schools, at https://www.aliefisd.net/bond.

Register to Vote:

October 4, 2021, is the last day to register to vote for the November 2, 2021 election. To learn how to register to vote, please visit https://www.votetexas.gov/.

Early Voting:

Early Voting Dates and Times - 

• October 18-23, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• October 24, 2021 - 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• October 25-27, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• October 28, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
• October 29, 2021 - 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Please note that Alief ISD Administration Building is a 24-hour voting location on October 28, 2021.

On October 28, Alief ISD Administration Building's polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and will close on October 29 at 7:00 p.m.

Early Voting Locations in the Alief Area - 

• Alief ISD Administration Building - 4250 Cook Rd, Houston, TX 77072
• Alief ISD Center for Talent Development - 14411 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 77077
• HCC Alief Bissonnet Campus - 13803 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77083
• Mission Bend Islamic Center - 6233 Tres Lagunas Dr, Houston, TX 77083
• Tracy Gee Community Center - 3599 Westcenter Dr, Houston, TX 77042

Election Day:

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Election Day Voting Locations (Harris Votes Website)

Please visit https://www.harrisvotes.com for the latest voting information and for any other voting-related questions.