HIGH SCHOOL #2

• Football/soccer stadium complex (seating capacity for 8,000), scoreboard, lights, field house, restrooms, concessions, press box, parking lot, attached multi-use activity center (indoor turf), grass practice fields (with stadium seating), and locker rooms (including restrooms with showers) for UIL athletics
• Baseball stadium, turf, restrooms, scoreboard, lights, concessions, dressing room for athletes, seating, press box and parking lot
• Tennis complex (8 courts), lights, restrooms, dressing room for athletes, seating and parking lot
• Track/auxiliary stadium, field house, restrooms, concessions, seating, press box and parking lot

LAKE TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL

• Renovation and improvements to baseball stadium, including installation of artificial turf, concession stand renovation, replacement of press box with film deck, and storage area
• Installation of artificial turf at softball stadium
• Renovations to Cavalier Stadium including additional permanent seating capacity from 7,400 to 12,000, new radio, television, public address, coaches, scoreboard operations rooms, film/observation deck, and installation of multipurpose turf fields
• Renovations and addition to women's field house including locker rooms, restrooms, showers, coaches offices, team room, Athletics office and meeting rooms
• New outdoor golf amenities with hitting bays, putting and chipping green and sand bunker
• Track stadium - installation of new fencing, new multi-purpose field turf, seating, and men’s fieldhouse millwork
• All campus stadiums - LED lighting replacements and restroom renovations

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

• Replace athletic turf and track surface at each middle school
• Additional locker room space, fields, and sound system replacement at Hudson Bend Middle School stadium

Total Package: $143,093,994

Lake Travis ISD voters approved the addition of High School #2 during the November 2022 bond program. High School #2 is expected to open in the Fall of 2027. Bond 2023 proposes new construction, renovations and upgrades for equitable facilities serving students at the voter-approved High School #2, Lake Travis High School and LTISD’s three middle schools.

• Passage of Bond 2023 will provide these additional facilities for use by students attending High School #2 and create more convenient access for students at both High School #2 and Lake Travis High School to enjoy equitable resources for participation in various extracurricular activities.
  
• These facilities will also serve the District for multi-purpose use, including high school graduation, rugby, lacrosse, and many other District events.
  
• Approximately 40 percent of students at Lake Travis High School participate in athletics, and an additional 30 percent of students at LTHS participate in extracurricular activities such as band, color guard, Cavalettes and Red Rubies dance teams, and other performance-based programs.
  
• Proposed projects in Bond 2023 would also address scheduled major maintenance and improvement at stadiums at Lake Travis High School and at all three middle schools in Lake Travis ISD. These projects will increase efficiency and provide safety and security upgrades for students and spectators at these facilities.
  
  

The lack of separate, dedicated facilities to serve students at High School #2 present Lake Travis ISD with several challenges, including the sharing of facilities with other campuses, and safety and security concerns with increased traffic and busing. 

Challenge: Sharing of Facilities

• LTISD is a fast-growth district. Projections estimate that the district can expect an addition of roughly 350 students per year over the next 10-year period, which would be an estimated growth of 3,500 students over that period. This would be enough to fill approximately four campuses over the next 10 years.

• Lake Travis High School is projected to exceed capacity by the 2027-2028 school year. The opening of High School #2 in 2027 will relieve overcrowding at LTHS.

• Without separate stadium facilities at High School #2, overcrowding of Lake Travis High School’s stadium facilities will worsen due to the continued growth in student enrollment and program participation at both high schools. Practice schedules for athletic, performing arts, and extracurricular programs regularly using these stadiums will be adversely affected. Facilities such weight rooms, locker rooms and other spaces would also be shared by both schools.

Challenge: Student/Spectator Safety and Security Concerns

• Without separate facilities at High School #2, travel for students to and from Lake Travis High School will create additional problems in terms of busing schedules, traffic, and security at both schools, resulting in increased pressures on the District’s general fund budget.

• New facilities at High School #2 and renovations to current facilities at Lake Travis High School provide increased safety and security features such as new fencing, upgrades to lighting and fixtures, and new turf fields to replace wear and tear at current facilities.

Lake Travis ISD is committed to the responsible fiscal stewardship of district funds. Since the 2002-2003 school year, Lake Travis ISD has maintained a “Superior Achievement” FIRST rating for financial accountability, the highest possible rating.

As compared to the 2022-2023 school year, LTISD has lowered its tax rate for the 2023-2024 school year by 13.8 cents per $100 valuation, from $1.2121 to $1.0741. This marks the lowest tax rate in the district since LTISD was established in 1981.

Some important facts to consider regarding the Bond 2023 proposal are:

• Every dollar raised from a bond program stays in Lake Travis ISD.

• Due to continued district growth, Lake Travis ISD can use the existing tax rate to fund these projects. Taxpayers will see no increase in the school district tax rate as a result of this bond, nor will it lessen the effects of the taxpayer relief approved in the recently concluded 88^th Texas Legislature.

• The proposed projects in Bond 2023 are comparable in size, scope, and amenities to similar facilities provided by neighboring districts to their students. The district’s goal is to provide equitable facilities for students at all campuses while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

LTISD homeowners receive an additional 20 percent reduction in appraised value through school board-approved Local Optional Homestead Exemption

Lake Travis ISD voters approved $609 million in capital projects during the November 2022 bond election. The district has currently issued $300 million in bonds dedicated to those approved projects. Bond 2022 projects under construction include:

• Installing secured entry vestibules, cameras, lighting, safety and security window film, door hardware, and numbering at various campuses

• Installing video wall at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center

• Installing guard houses at Lake Travis High School

• Adding new parking lot at Lake Travis High School

• Designing new competition gym and fine arts addition at Lake Travis High School

• Designing High School #2 

• Designing roadway to High School #2

• Discussions are ongoing regarding site approval for Elementary School #8

• Land purchase for Elementary School #9    

• Designing Elementary School #9

• Purchasing 14 school buses

• Purchasing technology devices for students and staff

Q: What is a bond election?

A: School districts are required by state law to ask voters for permission to sell bonds to investors in order to raise the capital dollars required for projects such as renovation to existing buildings or building a new school. Essentially, the voters are giving permission for the District to take out a loan and pay that loan back over an extended period of time, much like a family takes out a mortgage loan for their home. A school board calls a bond election so voters can decide whether or not they want to pay for proposed facility projects. School boards then have the authority to sell bonds when facilities are needed.

Q: How can bond money be spent?

A: Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings. Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building maintenance, fuel, and insurance. 

Q: How does school funding work in Texas?

A: Texas school districts are funded by three major sources: federal, state, and local. Two factors drive school finance in Texas: enrollment and local property values. A school district tax rate has two distinct components which added together make up the annual school tax rate.

• Maintenance and Operations (M&O) funds are used to fund the day-to-day operations of a school district, including teacher and staff salaries; utilities; student services and curriculum; professional development; and facility maintenance and management.

• Interest and Sinking (I&S) funds are generated from the sale of voter-approved bonds. These funds are restricted for use only for projects such as the construction of new facilities; additions and renovations to existing facilities; safety and security projects; and purchase of capital expense items such as buses and large technology expenses. 

School property taxes are set by an annual M&O plus I&S tax rate approved by the district’s Board of Trustees.

Q: Who determines my property value?

A: Actual property values are determined annually by local appraisal districts. School districts have no control over and do not set local property values.

Q: How was the Bond 2023 proposal developed?

A: Lake Travis ISD reconvened its Long-Range Facility Planning Committee comprised of approximately 47 members, including parents, students, community members, and staff, to consider a plan to add extracurricular facilities to the voter-approved High School #2. The committee reviewed items contained in the proposition and discussed next steps for a potential bond election in November 2023. The committee made its recommendation to the school board during the May 17 regular meeting. On June 21, the Lake Travis school board approved an order calling a $143 million bond election for November 7, 2023. 

Q:  What is the progress of Bond 2022?

A: LTISD has issued $300 million of authorized $609 million from Bond 2022:

• Installing secured entry vestibules, cameras, lighting, safety and security window film, door hardware, and numbering at various campuses

• Installing video wall at Lake Travis Performing Arts Center

• Installing guard houses at Lake Travis High School

• Adding new parking lot at Lake Travis High School

• Designing new competition gym and fine arts addition at Lake Travis High School

• Designing High School #2 

• Designing roadway to High School #2

• Discussions are ongoing regarding site approval for Elementary School #8

• Land purchase for Elementary School #9    

• Designing Elementary School #9

• Purchasing 14 school buses

• Purchasing technology devices for students and staff

Q:  What is included in the proposal?

A: The proposal for Bond 2023 includes:

• HIGH SCHOOL #2
  

  • Football/soccer stadium complex (seating capacity for 8,000), scoreboard, lights, field house, restrooms, concessions, press box, parking lot, attached multi-use activity center (indoor turf), grass practice fields (with stadium seating), and locker rooms (including restrooms with showers) for UIL athletics

  • Baseball and softball stadium, turf, restrooms, scoreboard, lights, concessions, dressing room for athletes, seating, press box and parking lot 

  • Tennis stadium complex (8 courts), lights, restrooms, dressing room for athletes, seating and parking lot

  • Track/auxiliary stadium, field house, restrooms, concessions, seating, press box and parking lot

• LAKE TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL
  

  • Renovation and improvements to baseball stadium, including installation of artificial turf, concession stand renovation, replacement of press box with film deck, and storage area

  • Installation of artificial turf at softball stadium

  • Renovations to Cavalier Stadium including additional permanent seating capacity from 7,400 to 12,000, new press box with radio, television, public address, coaches and scoreboard operations rooms, film/observation deck, and installation of new multipurpose turf field

  • Renovations and addition to women's field house including locker rooms, restrooms, showers, coaches offices, team room, Athletics office and meeting rooms

  • New outdoor golf amenities with hitting bays, putting and chipping green and sand bunker

  • Track stadium: installation of new fencing, additional seating, and men’s fieldhouse millwork

  • All campus stadiums: LED lighting replacements and restroom renovations

• MIDDLE SCHOOLS
  

  • Replace athletic turf and track surface at each middle school

  • Additional locker room space, fields, and sound system replacement at Hudson Bend Middle School stadium

Total Package: $143,093,994

Q:  Will HS#2 open without the proposed facilities?

A: Lake Travis ISD voters approved the construction of High School #2 during the November 2022 bond program. Bond 2023 proposes new construction, renovations and upgrades for equitable facilities serving students at the new high school. Regardless of the outcome of the November 7 election, High School #2 is expected to open in the Fall of 2027. A potential lack of separate, dedicated facilities to serve students at High School #2 will present Lake Travis ISD with several challenges, including the sharing of facilities with other campuses, as well as safety and security concerns with increased traffic and busing.

Q:  Is LTISD growing?

A: Lake Travis ISD is considered a fast-growth district. According to demographer Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), the 10-year projected enrollment at Lake Travis ISD is approximately 14,725 students. That is an increase of roughly 3,326 students.

Q:  How is Bond 2023 different from what was included in Bond 2022?

1. The Long Range Facility Committee recommended to the board to call another election for November 7, 2023.

2. What’s different?

   1. Replacement of Bee Cave MS stadium artificial turf and track surface - ADDED

   2. Replacement of Lake Travis MS stadium track surface - ADDED

   3. Stadium amenities for HS #2 to be equitable to Lake Travis HS - ADDED

      1. Football/soccer stadium larger press box with radio, television, public address, coaches and scoreboard operations rooms and film/observation deck

      2. Track/auxiliary stadium

      3. Indoor turf multi-use activity center

      4. Grass practice fields

      5. Locker rooms, restrooms and showers for future UIL sports

   4.  Replacement of Hudson Bend MS and Lake Travis HS baseball and softball stadium artificial turf and track surface - COST INCREASE FROM 2022

Q:  Can the district build one larger stadium to serve both high schools?

A: One large stadium complex on a neutral site would cost more than building a stadium for HS #2 and renovating Cavalier Stadium. There are traffic issues on Highways 71 and 620 when transporting student-athletes to a neutral site. And, LTISD will not have more than two high schools in the district, so it is more cost-effective to have a stadium at each high school serving the number of students enrolled at each campus.

Q:  Can students at both high schools share facilities?

A: Without separate stadium facilities at High School #2:

• There are traffic issues on Hwy 71 and 620 when transporting teams to shared facilities.

• There is a potential loss of academic time because of the need to schedule practices during the school day to accommodate all teams.

• There is the loss of field availability for community programs like LTYA, lacrosse, etc.

• Overcrowding of Lake Travis High School’s stadium and athletic facilities (weight rooms, locker rooms, training rooms, etc.) will worsen.

Q: Which programs will utilize the new facilities?

A: UIL sports programs (football, baseball, softball, tennis, golf, track and field, and cross country) and fine arts programs (band, cheer, drill team, dance, and colorguard) will utilize the new facilities, as well as middle school athletic programs, physical education classes, and cheer squads.The District will also be able to host annual high school graduation ceremonies.

Q:  How much will this bond impact my tax rate?

A: Lake Travis ISD is committed to the responsible fiscal stewardship of district funds. Since the 2002-2003 school year, Lake Travis ISD has maintained a “Superior Achievement” FIRST rating for financial accountability, the highest possible rating. Compared to the 2022-2023 school year, LTISD has lowered its tax rate for the 2023-2024 school year by 13.8 cents per $100 valuation, from $1.2121 to $1.0741. This marks the lowest tax rate in the district since LTISD was established in 1981. Due to continued district growth, Lake Travis ISD can fund the proposed projects using the existing tax rate dedicated to the repayment of bonds, therefore, keeping local control of these funds. Taxpayers will see no increase in the school district tax rate as a result of this bond, nor will it lessen the effects of the taxpayer relief approved in the recently concluded 88th Texas Legislature. Furthermore, LTISD homeowners receive an additional 20 percent reduction in appraised value through school board-approved Local Optional Homestead Exemption.

Q:  What if I am over 65?  Will my taxes be impacted?

A: No. Taxes are “frozen” for taxpayers age 65 and over or disabled persons under the Homestead Exemption application. These taxpayers see no increase in their tax rate as a result of a school bond election.

Q:  What will it say on the ballot when I go to vote?

A: The ballot will read as follows: “THE ISSUANCE OF $143,093,994 OF BONDS BY THE LAKE TRAVIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOL STADIUM FACILITIES AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF STADIUMS AT HIGH SCHOOL NO. 2 (WHICH CURRENTLY HAS NO SUCH FACILITIES) TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS FOOTBALL, BAND, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, SOCCER, TRACK, AND TENNIS, AND RENOVATIONS TO THE EXISTING STADIUMS AT LAKE TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE LEVY OF TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS. THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” 

A new rule for school districts was enacted in 2019 under Texas Education Code 45.003 that added an additional sentence to the end of each proposition on the ballot which must read: “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE” even if there is no property tax rate increase associated with the bond.

Q:  When can I vote?

A: Early voting begins Monday, October 23 and continues through Friday, November 3. Election day is Tuesday, November 7. Voting times and locations can be found on the district’s website at www.ltisdschools.org/bond. 

• In order to participate in this election, voters must be registered by October 10.

• Visit www.votetexas.gov to check your voter registration status.

• Early voting will begin October 23 and will conclude November 3.  Election Day is November 7, 2023 from 7am-7pm.

• The November 2023 ballot language will read as follows: “THE ISSUANCE OF $143,093,994 OF BONDS BY THE LAKE TRAVIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOL STADIUM FACILITIES AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF STADIUMS AT HIGH SCHOOL NO. 2 (WHICH CURRENTLY HAS NO SUCH FACILITIES) TO ACCOMMODATE STUDENT PROGRAMS SUCH AS FOOTBALL, BAND, BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, SOCCER, TRACK, AND TENNIS, AND RENOVATIONS TO THE EXISTING STADIUMS AT LAKE TRAVIS HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE LEVY OF TAXES SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS. THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.”

• As required by Texas House Bill 3, the November 2023 ballot will state “THIS IS A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.” However, the November 2023 bond referendum will NOT result in a property TAX RATE increase. Continued growth in the overall tax base within the district will allow the Lake Travis ISD to achieve these projects without any increase to the existing property tax rate.