A school bond is a voter-approved way for a school district to borrow money for major, long-term projects. Just as homeowners borrow money in the form of a mortgage to finance the purchase of a home, a school district borrows money in the form of bonds to finance construction, renovation and other capital projects. Both are repaid over time, but in order for a school district to sell bonds, it must go to the voters for approval. 

Bond funds can only be used for specific purposes, such as:

• Building new schools or classrooms

• Renovating or expanding existing campuses

• Land acquisition

• Safety and security improvements

• Infrastructure needs like roofs, HVAC systems, and utilities

• Transportation and technology tied to facilities

By law, bond funds may not be used to fund daily operating expenses, such as salaries or utilities, which are paid for out of the district’s Maintenance & Operation (M&O) budget.

School districts are required by law to seek voter approval before issuing bonds to fund major capital projects, such as building a new school or renovating existing facilities. When a bond is approved, the district borrows money from investors and repays that debt over time—similar to how a family uses a mortgage to purchase or improve a home.

Schools use bonds because large-scale projects—like constructing new campuses or replacing aging systems—cannot reasonably be funded within a single year’s operating budget.

School bonds must be approved by voters, ensuring:

• Community voice and oversight

• Transparency about what will be built or improved

• Accountability for how funds are used

Once approved, the district is legally required to spend the money only on the projects outlined in the bond proposal.

The bond proposal addressed projects throughout the District, including the projects below:

• Construction of a New Fredericksburg High School on District-Owned Land
• Improvements and Upgrades to Stonewall Elementary School, Fredericksburg Primary School, Fredericksburg Elementary School, and Gillespie County High School:
  • Safety, Security, and Technology Upgrades 
  • HVAC System Replacements and Efficiency Improvements
  • Additional Facility and ADA Compliance Improvements
• Transportation and Vehicle Additions
• Partial Roof Replacement and Building Enclosure at Fredericksburg Primary School
• Track and Field Facility Additions at Fredericksburg Middle School

The bond proposal will be presented to voters in one single ballot proposition and there is no

Fredericksburg Independent School District Proposition A:

PROPOSITION A
THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE
“The issuance of not to exceed $160,000,000 of Fredericksburg Independent
School District school building bonds for the purposes of designing,
constructing, renovating, improving, modernizing, expanding, upgrading,
updating, acquiring, and equipping school facilities (and any necessary or
related removal of existing facilities), and the purchase of buses and vehicles,
and the levying of a tax sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the
bonds and the cost of any credit agreements.”

Fredericksburg community members are encouraged to explore this informational webpage to learn more about what was included in the bond package; how the bond proposal was developed; and how FISD’s conservative fiscal approach currently allows the district to fund capital projects without an increase to the district’s tax rate.