Ysleta ISD discusses $155M bond election
The Ysleta Independent School District went over the details of their proposed bond election Wednesday night. They district is asking voters to approve a $155 million bond to improve school facilities.
Board members were given a presentation by Attorney Anthony Safi, who compared and contrasted three election dates they can choose from.
They can hold an election on November 4th during the general election; July 19th, the date for the City of El Paso’s special election; or May 10th, when San Elizario holds its first election.
Safi said a November election allows YISD to share the costs with the county and state. According to Associate Superintendent of Finance Roylne Kafka, that cost is estimated at $40,000 to $50,000. But the district would have to fight for attention among city, county, state and national issues and candidates. YISD would also lose out on state money to cover half of their bond. It has to get the bond approved by the fall in order to receive existing debt allotments or EDA’s from the state.
The date that allows them to meet that deadline is July 19th. That’s when the city asked for an emergency election to replace City Rep. Eddie Holguin and Municipal Court Judge Rick Olivo. They’ll also have to prove to the governor that their election is an emergency as well. If Ysleta does, the city and YISD will share election costs, according to Kafka, that’s around $40,000 to $50,000.
May 10th would also allow the district to collect bond money from the state. But the district would not be able to share election costs. In the presentation, Safi estimated a May election would cost more than $100,000 to cover the cost of poll workers, voting machines and training. Safi advised them against that date because without the county’s help, something potentially could go wrong.
The district says this bond will not raise taxes. The board intends on using money on old debts, debts that have just been paid off, and transferring that money to new debts.
