2025 Bond Election

A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations, and equipment. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.

School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the district to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage or home improvement loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether they agree to pay for proposed projects.

Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure, transportation costs and vehicles, and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel and insurance.

The bond proceeds will be phased in based on deposits to construction in 2026 & 2028:

Phase I
Deposit to Construction 2026
$7,530,000

• Addition of 4 classrooms at the secondary campus
• Addition of 4-6 classrooms at the elementary campus
• Band Hall enovation and expansion
• New Track
• Transportation

Phase II & III
Deposit to Construction 2028
$12,265,000

Phase II

• CTE / Ag Shop renovation and expansion

Phase III

• New Gym
• Transportation

OFFICIAL BALLOT

ROPES INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – PROPOSITION A

THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.

The issuance of $19,795,000.00 school building bonds for the construction, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the District (including the rehabilitation, renovation, expansion and improvement thereof); the purchase of the necessary sites for school buildings; the purchase of new school buses; the retrofitting of school buses with emergency, safety, or security equipment; and the purchase or retrofitting of vehicles to be used for emergency, safety, or security purposes, and the levy and imposition of taxes sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds and the costs of any credit agreements.

A tax rate increase of $0.1993.

Assumptions: based on current property values

A tax rate increase of $0.1993.

Assumption 1: based on construction of 313 projects and property values
Assumption 2: based on current property values

If the 313 projects don’t come to fruition, the District wouldn’t use the bond funds set aside for them. Phases II and III would be put on hold until the 313 projects move forward or local property values can support the remaining bond funding.

Under state law, if you have applied for and received the Age 65 and Older Homestead Exemption, your school taxes CANNOT be raised unless you make significant improvements or additions to your home.

You must be a registered voter with a current address in the District. You must be a resident in the District at least 30 days prior to the election. Check your voter registration status at VoteTexas.gov.

Election Day is November 4, 2025. Voting information & Early Voting information can be found on our district website under the Election Day & Voting Locations tab. Your polling location will be determined by the county and precinct in which you reside.

Since 2018, Ropes ISD has performed two official Demographic Studies to gather information of the projected growth rate of the District; one performed in 2018 and the other in the Spring of 2024. Since that time, the District has monitored attendance and housing developments locally.

In April 2025, a Facility Planning Committee (FPC) was developed which consisted of approximately 50 parents, community members, employees, and other community stakeholders. The FPC met four times between April 21 – August 4. During these meetings the committee listened to and discussed potential district needs. This included reviewing findings from a Needs vs Wants assessment performed by the committee, District staff, District administration and the Board of Trustees, which assisted to determine specific items to be addressed.

The district would seek feedback and analyze potential reasons the bond was not supported. Based on that feedback, the district would seek another bond election.

The total bond amount for all projects is $19,795,000.

Actual property values are determined annually by local appraisal districts. School districts have no control over and do not set local property values.

Enrollment at Ropes ISD has increased from 475 students in 2020 to 670 students in the current year (2025). Demographic Studies project enrollment numbers of 856 students in 2028-2029, 984 students in 2030-20231, and 1,144 students in 2032-2023.