Before you vote think through the facts.

Printable below for you to share.

Outstanding meeting!

Speaker, Jerry Doherty, Former Superintendent

Citizens had time to respond with comments and questions.

Simply explained Bond information.

Shareable Video Link Below

Ideally, projects of this scope would be released before the School Board voted to call a Special Election. The school board should wait for a REGULAR ELECTION to assure the will of the greatest number of people VOTE and their wishes are HONORED.

Republican plank #92 states that all bond issues should be approved by 2/3 majority vote and a minimum of 20% of all registered voters who should cast a vote on bond election day.

In addition, on that bond ballot legally must state “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE”.

How can concerned citizens voice their ideas and give thoughtful input with such little detail and extremely little time? (less than 7 weeks)

Early Voting Locations:

1. Annex 1, Meeting Room, 1410 W. Pearl Street, Granbury, TX. 76048

2. Acton Methodist Church, Scout Building, 3433 Fall Creek Hwy, Granbury, TX 76049

April 22 - April 26 8am-5pm

April 29 - April 30 7am-7pm

Final Day to Vote, Saturday, May 4, 2024

7am-7pm

Voting Locations and Printable to Share

Include INTEREST and the UNPAID balance on the last bond and the total bill is really $419,000,000

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS!

Should we burden future generations before paying down old debt?

Note: it is correct to say the GISD tax rate is the lowest RIGHT NOW when compared to surroundng areas.

Keep in mind - that in every instance where a bond was approved the tax rate went up - regardless of what ISD.

It takes about a year, but the rate wil rise.

Could we explore other ideas and implement them?

Rather than push a short notice bond package?

2 Bonds have failed already.

IF overcrowding is such an issue - why isn’t the Fire Marshall involved?

NOTE: The Trustees & Superintendent voted, Monday March 25, 2024 to move 150 students from Brawner to Baccus beginning the 2024-2025 School year. Is there a legitimate reason to not move those students right now? Over capacity at Brawner has been a 3 year problem. What’s the hold up?

Big decisions require data. Review this high to low line by line itemization of the proposed bond. Do you see the $10 million in Contingencies and $30 million for Unidentified items? That is $40 million in unaccounted debt.

Most of the dollars identified are:

A. Not needed because the student population will decline and the Admin building is allowed for student use, or

B. Fluff - as in Soft costs, Contingency, Finishes, Education Technology, and Safety, etc.

Do citizens realize the Granbury Administration building was built and used as a school? The school was Crossland 9th Grade Center. Before then, the building was Granbury Middle School.

The facility was desiged to educate approximately 600 students. The 7 acre property has an existing cafeteria and gymnasium.

How much space does administration need?

Could 5th grade students attend and relieve some of the crowding issues?

Hood Council Appraisal District returned $1 million 30 thousand of your tax dollars last year to Granbury ISD. Repeated questions on how that money was to be used have not been answered. The superintendent’s simple answer is the money was “put back into the general fund” with no further explanation.

How many buses could have been purchased already? Why are buses being financed through a bond instead of the general budget?

Buses are a planned expense and so is maintenance. With growth comes tax dollars that should be earmarked for maintenance.

Citizens must remember this extravagant purchase and irresponsible behavior by top administrators.

With the gross misuse of taxpayers funds, the present board trustees ( Moore, Alan and Townsend) along with the current Superintendent approved the purchase of the 1963 Cessna airplane for $42,000 in 2021 and sold it for $96,000 in 2023 because of public pressure. Trust was eroded between the community and the school district. In addition, the plane was used for private trips.

In one month the district records showed Granbury ISD spent nearly $2,000 on fuel for the plane in the month of June when the Assistant superintendent (Dawson) took a trip to Abilene with his wife to see their daughter. (This was not an airplane kit as some claim) He had his pilot’s licencse BUT was not a flight instructor yet took 3 students up and used the plane 7 times with his family.

(texaspolicy.com) Were taxes best used when the plane was bought, maintained, stored, and upgraded software (upgrades at a cost of $50,000)? Was there a real discussion and vote with taxpayers on what is critically needed for the district for students that claims " growth is coming" yet they bought a plane that only a handful of students benefitted from?

Were mechanical needs on buses or air conditioning or ADA or classroom “finishes” done during this 2 year period?

BUILD TRUST FIRST

The PAC promoting the school bond released their treasury report.

Every donor was from special interest groups out side Hood County.

The PAC name is “For Granbury ISD Kids” Really - who is this bond for?

Kids, special interest groups, or to fluff up someone’s resume?

As your home's appraised value increases, so will your property taxes increase. Taxes are determined BOTH by tax rate and appraisals. (home value). Texas is home to the highest property taxes in the nation according to WalletHub.

This GISD bond position is based upon a couple of uncontrollable factors. 5% interest on the bond and assumes the “annual growth of the Districts’s taxable assessed valuation in the dollar amount for the next five years and remains constant thereafter.”

If EITHER of these factors do not meet expectations a TAX RATE INCREASE will be required along with decades of debt to pass on to future generations.

NOTE: Some will say that the State of Texas is all wrong by requiring this statement.

GISD school buses have been in a state of disrepair for several years.

Maintenance could have been prioritized over spending $1 million + on Astro turf in 2022.

Ideally maintenance and safety checks would be scheduled ad performed regularly - not deferred until bond dollars are available.

NOTICE language issued in 2023 by GISD - “Prospective respondents are prohibited from contacting any Board member, Superintendent, Athletics departments member, principal, department head, director, manager, or other District employee who has influence in the evaluation or selection process. “ In the current Bond - we have the Artichect firm from New York donating $5000 specifically for bond promotion. ETHICS TRAINING IS IN ORDER

The Texas Republican Party platform #92 states “all bond issues should be approved by a two-thirds majority vote and a minimum of 20% of all registered voters should caste a vote in a bond election.

When a “Special Election” is called by a school district the proposed bond may be passed without significant voter turnout - AGAINST Republican Party Plank #92

Enrollment declines play out across Texas, nationwide.

Last year, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told the Senate Finance Committee that the state is likely to see steady public school enrollment DECLINES over the next decade after 20 years of consistent enrollmenl growth. Feb 9, 2024.

Declining enrollment in Frisco, Fort Worth, Dallas, Richardson, Collevile . . .Granbury growth has “plateaued” according to current GISD Superintendent in a recent board meeting.

Is a bond the answer? Home education, private education, charter schools, online learning are all effective trending options.

What impact will School Choice have on Texas Schools?

Could we pause and reassess needs vs. wants and be certain we are not overbuilding?

What Happened to the need for a New High School?

Looks like recent history is bond roulette.

Administration is trying to figure out how to wear down voters to get what they want.

Is this for the kids? Or someone’s resume?

Understanding a school district’s budget planning process can be difficult due to the jargon used to explain otherwise normal processes.

Below are terms that you will likely hear during upcoming budget discussions in your local school district.

Look at the facts and data provided. Do you have questions?

Please share the Fact Sheet so more citizens can make intelligent, informed decisions.

People want options. Granbury ISD owns many properties that are not being used for students.

Could property be sold or made profitable to pay down current debt or fund current projects?

Governor of Texas - The Texas Legislature sets the Governor's salary, which remains unchanged at $153,750.

Superintendent, Granbury ISD - $200,000 +

NEW DEBT:

Roads - estimated costs in the millions

Hospital District - $1 million

School - this $161.5 million and another one coming for a high school?

Jail expansion the millions

PLUS what is already owed on the current bond debt.

GHS Enrollment

STARS Enrollment

Administration Bldg (former school campus)

Granbury Middle School Enrollment

Acton Middle School Enrollment

Acton Enrollment

Mambrino Enrollment

Nettie Baccus Enrollment

Oak Woods Enrollment

Emma Roberson Enrollment

Brawner Enrollment

Details for Brawner Elementary - 2024 Bond Proposal.