A bond election is coming in November for Taylor Independent School District. On Monday, Aug. 15, the board of trustees approved calling for a bond election for Taylor ISD for $82,465,778. The bond package, which is less than the $85.5 million initially proposed in July, is mostly based on recommendations for the school’s community advisory committee. According to Superintendent Devin Padavil, around 13-15% of planned improvements from the bond would be dedicated to safety enhancements at all schools.
He explained other themes of the package as well.
“There is also the inclusion of land acquisition that’s necessary for the growth of Taylor ISD. There is also major maintenance that is needed to take care of, and as I’ve explained in some of the faculty visits I’ve done, if we take care of major maintenance,” said Padavil, “that leaves more (maintenance and operations) funds and fund balance funds to take care of compensation for employees.”
Other project priorities identified for the bond included major maintenance to T.H. Johnson Elementary School, playground secured fencing at Naomi Pasemann Elementary School, building additions and renovations at Taylor Middle School, and classrooms for visual arts as well as career and technical education at Taylor High School. Padavil said THS would see the most significant improvement.
“We have an incredible automotive and welding program at that campus, but those are very cramped quarters,” said Padavil. “It is inhibiting expansion and there’s no where to really add students in a way that’s really safe.”
The bond package was approved on the same night that the district’s tax rate was adopted.
“You, like many growth area districts, will continue to see capacity grow within this tax rate, which is really the best thing,” said Dan Wegmiller, “[Taylor ISD], like many growth area districts, will continue to see capacity grow within this tax rate,which is really the best thing,” said Dan Wegmiller, Taylor ISD financial advisor, to the board.
“You have been able to compress the debt service rate this year and still have this capacity the bond will be called for ($82,465,778), but the capacity is going to continue to grow for the district as values grow and within that tax rate.” To learn more, view Monday’s board meeting on the Taylor Press Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/GoTaylorTx/ videos/ 640225307185352.
Nicole Lessin contributed to this report.
