During a special called meeting, the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to call a bond election for May 2, 2026. The proposed $135 million bond program is designed to address aging school facilities, support growing program needs, and meet long-term infrastructure priorities, all while maintaining the district’s current debt tax rate.
The bond recommendation is the result of a six-month planning process led by a Facilities Advisory Committee made up of parents, staff, students, and community members. From October 2025 through January 2026, the committee held six public meetings to review enrollment trends, facility conditions, safety and security needs, transportation, technology, and the district’s financial capacity. The committee’s final recommendation focuses on replacing aging middle school facilities, improving elementary capacity, and addressing essential district-wide needs.
“Our schools were built in different eras, and some no longer reflect today’s safety standards or learning needs,” said Board President Earl Foster. “This bond recommendation is about stewardship— addressing known facility needs, planning responsibly for growth, and doing so within the district’s existing tax rate. Our responsibility as a board is to be transparent, thoughtful, and fiscally responsible as we plan for the long term, and our voters will have the opportunity to decide what’s best for the future of our schools.”
Bond Package Overview
The proposed bond totals approximately $135 million and includes two propositions:
Proposition A. General Facilities, Modernization, Deferred Maintenance, and Land Acquisition: Approximately $133 million
Proposition B. District Wide Technology Upgrades included approximately $2 million bond funds that can only be used for school facilities and capital improvements, such as new construction, renovations, safety and security upgrades, buses and infrastructure. They cannot be used for salaries, classroom supplies or operating costs.
Major Projects include:
• Burnet Middle School - New academic building for 900 students (with capacity to expand to 1,200 students in the future) and performance areas including classrooms and collaborative learning spaces, science labs and elective spaces, library/ media center, cafeteria and kitchen and Special Education spaces and renovation of existing Fine Arts and athletic spaces.
• RJ Richey Elementary - Redesigned interior spaces to improve capacity and flow, new academic classrooms built within existing cafeteria and courtyard space, conversion of interior gym into a cafetorium and kitchen, dedicated art and music rooms, right-sized special education spaces to increase student capacity to better match the district’s other elementary schools and delay the need for an additional new elementary campus.
Deferred Maintenance at Campuses include roof replacement, electrical system upgrades, HVAC replacements, replacement of selected interior finishes, building protection system upgrades and conversion to energy-efficient LED lighting.
Bertram Elementary School - New secure front-door to improve entry, access and safety.
Districtwide Needs and Future Planning
Replacement of aging buses to support safe and reliable transportation, refresh of student technology devices used for instruction and assessments (Proposition B) purchase of land for a future elementary school and a future middle school near Bertram.
Tax Impact
Burnet CISD’s school tax rate structure includes maintenance and operations (M&O) funds for daily operations such as staff, utilities, and supplies, as well as Interest & Sinking (I&S) funds for voter-approved bond debt only.
Burnet CISD’s I&S rate of $0.195 per $100 of taxable value has remained unchanged since 2019. The proposed bond is structured without an increase to the current I&S tax rate, and the district holds a strong AA bond rating, reflecting sound fiscal management. While individual tax bills may vary due to property value changes, the debt tax rate is not expected to rise.
Next Steps
Burnet CISD is committed to open communication and transparency throughout the bond planning process. As the May 2026 election approaches, the district will continue to provide clear, fact-based information through community meetings, digital platforms, and printed materials.
As with previous bond programs, Burnet CISD plans to utilize a bond oversight committee to ensure that all projects promised to the community are completed on time and on budget. Community engagement remains essential as we work together to plan for the future of our schools.
