Longview Independent School District will get its eight new schools and three school additions.
Barely.
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Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo | Longview ISD elections administrator Diane Parr and trustee John Harrison, center, listen as board President Sam Satterwhite reads results Saturday from the bond proposal at the Gregg County Courthouse.
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With 3,090 ballots cast, residents decided by a 14-vote margin that $266.9 million in bonds should be sold to fund the districtwide construction projects — 1,552 for (50.23 percent) and 1,538 against (49.77 pecent). Saturday's election results are unofficial until the school board canvasses them May 21.
The bond package will equate to a 12½ cent tax increase in each of the next three years, totaling a 37½ cent increase — to $1.513 per $100 of assessed property value — by 2010. Residents who are 65 years and older who have had their tax rate frozen will not be affected by the increase.
The bonds are scheduled to be paid off in 28 years.
"I'm relieved," said school board President Sam Satterwhite, shortly after he read vote totals Saturday to a crowd of about 20 people at the Gregg County Courthouse. "All I can say is that every vote counts."
The bond will affect the whole district, consolidating most elementary schools into five new campuses, with additions at Doris McQueen Primary School — which would become a kindergarten through fifth-grade campus — and South Ward Elementary School. The projected cost for the elementary school portion is $121 million.
At a combined cost of about $107 million, the bond will pay for rebuilding all three district middle schools. Only a historical building at Foster and Judson's library annex will remain under the plan.
About $34.7 million will be spent at Longview High School on a new fine arts center and an expansion at the Career and Technology Education building. The high school's tennis courts will be moved to the east side of Airline Road and will include a restroom facility.
Another $4 million is earmarked for upgrading districtwide technology.
"We're extremely pleased," said Superintendent James E. Wilcox. "We understand the magnitude of what we were asking of Longview residents and LISD residents in particular. It is a huge victory. The benefits will be felt in Gregg County for at least the next 50 years."
Students at Longview High School will be among the first to get the use of a new building. A fine arts center on the campus' north side is planned to open by August 2010. Three elementary schools also are scheduled for completion and move-in by August 2010.
The design phase for all projects will begin within the next couple of weeks.
"The children are the winners in this," said the Rev. Homer Rockmore, pastor of Red Oak Baptist church. Rockmore was co-chairman of the bond steering committee. "I certainly appreciate all of those who came out to vote and those who helped put this over the top. Our children have a future now."
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TOTAL PACKAGE: $266.9 MILLION
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Bond tax impact
Additional tax: 37 1/2-cents per $100 of assessed property value, phased in, for 28 years
Resulting tax rate: $1.513
Annual tax bill: About $1,245 for a home with the district's 2007 average taxable value of $82,285
2007 tax bill: In 2007-08, the overall tax rate is $1.14 per $100 of assessed value, a tax bill of about $938 for the average value home.
Difference: $307 increase
Residents age 65 and older who have had their tax rate frozen will not be affected by the increase.
Source: Longview ISD
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3 new elementary schools: $57.2 million; occupancy August 2010
2 new elementary schools: $42.5 million; occupancy August 2011
South Ward expansion: $9.8 million; occupancy August 2010
Doris McQueen expansion: $11.5 million; occupancy August 2010
Forest Park replacement: $34 million; occupancy August 2010
Foster replacement: $37.6 million; occupancy August 2011
Judson replacement: $35.5 million; occupancy August 2011
Districtwide technology: $4 million; NA
LONGVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
CATE expansion; new fine arts building; new tennis courts, science classroom renovations, new PE gym and lockers: $34.7 million; completion between January and August 2010
