NISD sets bond committee meetings

Navasota Independent School District announced bond committee dates during a public “Rattle Session” Dec. 12. Four dates were set to discuss potential bond needs that could appear on a ballot as early as May 2024.

Bond Committee dates are set for Thursday, Jan. 11, Jan. 18, Feb. 1 and Feb. 5. Meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Navasota ISD Administration building, 705 E. Washington Ave. in Navasota. The meetings are open to the public and Superintendent Dr. Stu Musick said the district encourages public input.

The deadline to call a bond is Friday, Feb. 16. For a bond to be called, the bond committee must present and recommend a bond proposal to the Board of Trustees who would have to vote in favor of calling a bond election. Then the voters would decide the fate of the bond.

Bond consideration

Musick shared that NISD has 3,083 students enrolled in grades pre-k through 12th. The district has a high school, junior high, three elementary campuses and an alternative education campus. All campuses except High Point Elementary are located within Navasota city limits.

Musick said the district is in the top 15% of districts across Texas with the largest geographical areas. One of the areas the district covers is southern Brazos County.

“Navasota ISD is in a positive position currently for several reasons,” stated Musick. “One is because we have had a long-term plan and have been fiscally responsible and our financial advisors have done a great job of guiding us through that so we can be fiscally responsible in planning for the future and putting ourselves in a good position.”

Musick discussed the two sides of a district budget. The Maintenance & Operations side of the budget is for daily operations utilizing money allotted from The State. Interest & Sinking is the portion of the budget that deals with debt.

“Most school facilities were built along the way because their community passed a bond,” said Musick. NISD voters approved a $63 million bond in 2017 for renovations and remodels.

“Navasota ISD is also in a positive position and the timing is good because there are current I&S debts that are falling off that are ending and there is also the ability to refinance some current I&S debt that would put us in a positive position as well,” said Musick.

The $4.3 million Maintenance Tax Note was passed in 2019. It was used to build and upgrade athletic facilities across the district including an eight-court tennis facility, renovation of the baseball and softball fields with artificial turf, bleachers, new dugouts, batting tunnels, concession, restrooms etc. renovating the track, adding new turf, video scoreboard and sound system at Rattler Stadium, replacing gym flooring at three gyms and pouring an overlay at one gym.

Payment for the Maintenance Tax Note is around $500,000 per year for the next nine years. Musick said, “The Tax Note may be refinanced on the I&S side which will free approximately $500,000 annually for the next nine years on the M&O side of the budget.”

The district recently had a demographic study performed to stay ahead of future growth. Musick stated the study projects future growth over the next 10, 20, 30 years. Meeting with city and county officials as well as developers is another way the district remains in the loop on projected growth. Multiple developments are in the works including the Millican Reserve.

Millican Reserve

Chad Murphy with Millican Reserve presented upcoming project details. The Reserve is approximately 2,600 acres and roughly 85-90% of the property is within the NISD boundary. There is a mile of frontage on Texas 6 and FM 2154.

Murphy said, “This is a conservation-oriented project with approximately 1,000 acres dedicated to green space.” The plan is to build approximately 2,000 homes over the next 10 years with multiple home levels. It is estimated the homes may bring 5,865 residents to the area of all ages. Construction is planned to begin in 2024.

Murphy said there is designated property at Millican Reserve for school construction. He said they are prepared to donate the property to NISD if the district constructs an elementary school.

According to current estimates, constructing a new elementary for around 400-500 students is around $3,540 million.

A bond without a tax increase

Joey Dawson, with Live Oak Finance LLC, explained voters can pass a bond without an increase in taxes.

He said NISD could potentially receive a bond up to $71 million without an increase in taxes. He stated the district is able to do that because they have been fiscally sound with taxpayer money by eliminating debt.

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