Cy-Fair ISD voters reject $1.64 billion school bond package

CYPRESS, Texas – Voters in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD rejected all five propositions on Tuesday’s ballot, defeating a proposed $1.6 billion bond package and a separate property tax increase intended to help fund everyday school operations.

The measures failed by wide margins, with none receiving more than 37% support, according to unofficial election results released by the district on Wednesday.

The defeat leaves one of the Houston area’s largest school districts facing difficult financial decisions as it works to address an estimated $80 million budget deficit.

“We accept our voters’ decisions,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Killian said in a statement Wednesday. “Our next step is to listen carefully, reassess our options and keep our community involved as we determine a path forward.”

How did each proposition fare?

The district placed five separate propositions on the November 3 ballot. Proposition A concerned the district’s operating budget, while Propositions B through E made up the $1.636 billion bond package.

According to the district’s unofficial results:

Nearly 198,000 ballots were cast in the district’s election, with approximately 76% of those votes cast during early voting.

What would the propositions have paid for?

Proposition A would have increased the district’s maintenance and operations tax rate by 12 cents per $100 of taxable property value, generating approximately $103 million annually.

Unlike the bond proposals, this funding would have supported recurring expenses, including teacher and staff compensation, campus safety personnel, student programs and transportation.

The remaining four propositions would have authorized the district to borrow money for specific projects:

• Proposition B - $1.3 billion: Repairs and improvements to existing schools, including roofs, air conditioning systems, safety equipment, school buses and other infrastructure.
• Proposition C - $256 million: Classroom technology, including student Chromebooks, teacher laptops and instructional equipment.
• Proposition D - $60.8 million: Improvements to existing athletic facilities, including turf, tracks and scoreboards.
• Proposition E - $20.1 million: Repairs and equipment replacements at existing swimming pools.

The bond package did not include construction of new schools.

According to the district’s pre-election estimates, approval of all five propositions would have resulted in a net property tax increase of 9 cents per $100 of taxable value, accounting for a projected reduction in the district’s debt service tax rate.

For a home valued at $350,000 with the applicable homestead exemptions, the district estimated an additional $126 in annual property taxes.

What happens next for Cy-Fair ISD?

The election results leave the district without the additional operating revenue or borrowing authority it requested from voters.

Cy-Fair ISD has already made substantial budget reductions in recent years as officials grapple with rising expenses and financial pressures.

The rejection of Proposition A means the district will not receive the approximately $103 million in additional annual operating revenue it had sought to help support staffing, student services and other expenses.

Meanwhile, the defeat of the four bond propositions means the district cannot move forward with the proposed borrowing for those projects as planned.

That does not necessarily mean every repair or technology replacement will be canceled. However, district leaders will need to determine how to prioritize those needs using existing resources or identify alternative funding.

In its Wednesday statement, the district did not announce specific additional cuts or identify which projects could be delayed.

Killian said officials would reassess their options following the election.

“We are grateful to everyone in the CFISD community who participated in this election, took time to learn about the propositions, asked questions and shared their perspectives,” he said.

The district also thanked members of its Long-Range Planning Committee, a citizen advisory group that helped develop recommendations for the proposed bond projects.

The committee included parents, community members and local business leaders who evaluated the district’s facilities, technology, transportation and safety needs.

With all five propositions defeated, the district must now determine how to address those needs without the additional funding voters rejected.