Belton ISD Trustees Call for May 6 Bond Election

At a meeting Monday night, the Belton ISD Board of Trustees called a bond election for May 6 that would ask voters to decide on funds for four projects, including two new schools.

The proposed package would total an estimated $149.7 million. Those funds would be spent on a new elementary school at the intersection of Poison Oak Rd. and Carriage House Dr. to open in 2019 and a new high school near the intersection of FM 317 and FM 2483 in Temple to open in 2020.

Funding would also be used to add music rooms and a gymnasium at Lakewood Elementary School and update systems and equipment at the Wall Street Auditorium downtown.

Historic trends indicate that the bonds would increase property taxes 18.69 cents per $100 of valuation, BISD spokesperson Kyle DeBeer said Monday. That amounts to $253.91 per year for the average homeowner within the Belton ISD.

DeBeer said the district grew by 3,151 students over the past decade and is projected to add another 3,617 students in the next ten years. That would bring Belton ISD’s total enrollment to more than 14,400 students in the fall of 2025, including more than 4,400 high school students. As a result, elementary and middle schools are expected to be at or near their capacity in 2019 and high schools in 2021.

“There’s a reason that more than 6,000 lots for future homes are planned in Belton ISD,” board president Randy Pittenger said. “The word is out that our community is a great place to live, work and raise a family. That means more families are moving here, and more kids are enrolling in our schools.”

Early voting is set to begin on April 24, and will include two at-large seats on the school board.

There will be three early voting locations: the Belton ISD administration building, North Belton Middle School, and Belton High School. Voters will be able to cast their ballot at any of the sites from 7:30 AM to 6 PM on April 24-28, 10 AM to 4 PM on April 29 and 30, and from 7:30 AM to 7 PM on May 1 and 2.

On May 6, voters in trustee areas 1 and 4 will cast their ballots at North Belton Middle School in Temple, and voters in areas 2, 3 and 5 will vote at the T.B. Harris Community Center in Belton. Both polling places will be open from 7 AM to 7 PM.

“I would encourage every voter in our school district to participate in this election,” said Pittenger. “It’s important that every voice is heard.”