{"id":598,"date":"2019-05-30T18:53:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T18:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/bond2021\/?page_id=598"},"modified":"2024-10-23T16:49:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T16:49:39","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/bond2021\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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FAQs<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\t\t
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FAQs Index<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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General Questions<\/a><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  1. What is a bond?<\/a><\/li>
  2. What is a capital item?<\/a><\/li>
  3. How can bond dollars be used?<\/a><\/li>
  4. Was the community involved in determining what projects and items should be included in Bond 2021?<\/a><\/li>
  5. Does RISD have a long-range bond plan?<\/a><\/li>
  6. How does RISD\u2019s move to a middle school model from a junior high model impact Bond 2021?<\/a><\/li>
  7. How does Bond 2021 impact Pre-Kindergarten opportunities for RISD families?<\/a><\/li>
  8. What is overflow and how will Bond 2021 impact it?<\/a><\/li>
  9. When was RISD\u2019s last bond referendum?<\/a><\/li>
  10. Is RISD\u2019s bond package related to or part of the City of Richardson bond package?<\/a><\/li>
  11. Would this bond allow students or staff to receive a new computer or device each year?<\/a><\/li>
  12. Why were junior highs in the Lake Highlands learning community selected to be the first to transition to the middle school (grade 6-8) model? When will the Berkner, Pearce and Richardson learning community junior highs make the transition?<\/a><\/li>
  13. How has the pandemic impacted RISD enrollment?<\/a><\/li>
  14. How does RISD plan to manage projects associated with the 2021 Bond? In house or through consultants?<\/a><\/li>
  15. How old is the school bus that is being used to display a bond information banner? How can we believe that there is a need for school buses that the district has enough of a surplus to repurpose them for mobile advertising?<\/a><\/li>
  16. What if Bond 2021 passed, and a bond in 2026 did not pass? What would then occur with the middle school transformation plan?<\/a><\/li>
  17. 1:1 technology for students was provided in the 2016 bond at a cost of $19.6 million. The bond is asking for $56 million to do the same thing. Why is the cost so much higher now?<\/a><\/li>
  18. What is the timeline for potential renovation of Northrich and Stults Road elementary schools?<\/a><\/li>
  19. What is the current square footage per pupil of PHS, and how does that compare to the other RISD high schools,? How many square feet would be added through Bond 2021 expansion\/renovation?<\/a><\/li>
  20. Would expansion at Mohawk and Brentfield be necessary if JJP feeder pattern junior highs would be expanded to include grades 6-8?<\/a><\/li>
  21. Specifically, in what ways would PHS be expanded?<\/a><\/li>
  22. If LH junior high were expanded instead of rebuilt, what would the difference in costs be and would there be a difference in construction time?<\/a><\/li>
  23. What is total estimated amount of a 2026 bond package?<\/a><\/li>
  24. If Bond 2021 were not successful, could the cost of items increase if included in a future bond?<\/a><\/li>
  25. What is the district track record for actual cost overruns on capital expenditures from the most recent (2016) bond? Was there a significant increase to the WRE expansion project? Did the MACs (multipurpose activity centers) incur significant cost overruns?<\/a><\/li>
  26. What was the last bond election date, amount of bond money, and how was it spent?<\/a><\/li>
  27. How much more staff will need to be hired to accomplish the Junior High to Middle School transition? <\/a><\/li>
  28. Where is the Facilities Audit?<\/a><\/li>
  29. Where is the Demographers Study?<\/a><\/li>
  30. Where can details of proposed bond items be found?<\/a><\/li>
  31. How does an equity model help students?<\/a><\/li>
  32. How soon will new technology equipment be in staff, teachers and students hands?<\/a><\/li>
  33. Are teacher salaries due to be increased soon?<\/a><\/li>
  34. Does the composition of the BSC represent the diversity of the entire district? How are members of the committee chosen?<\/a><\/li>
  35. Does the technology bond proposition include funds for WiFi hot spots for students who need it?<\/a><\/li>
  36. What population projections were the building expansions based on?<\/a><\/li>
  37. Can RISD meet with residents who are adjacent to the LHJH proposed rebuild to answer questions and receive feedback before the construction design is finalized?<\/a><\/li>
  38. How does Bond 2021 support the district\u2019s improvement plan and continuous improvement process?<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Taxes and Finances<\/a><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    1. Would RISD\u2019s property tax rate increase if the Bond 2021 package is approved?<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. What is RISD\u2019s tax rate, and what would it be if Bond 2021 were to pass?<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. If voters approve Bond 2021, how could RISD issue bonds to pay for projects without increasing the tax rate?<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Why does the ballot language say this is a tax increase?<\/a><\/li>\n
    5. Can RISD address or explain a Forbes article discussing municipal\/school district bonds and impact on taxes?<\/a><\/li>\n
    6. Can the actual amount of property taxes that a property owner has to pay go up or down in a given year even if the tax rate stays the same?<\/a><\/li>\n
    7. What does the ballot language THE LEVYING OF A TAX SUFFICENT, WITHOUT LIMIT AS TO RATE OR AMOUNT\u201d mean? Does that mean RISD could raise the tax rate by any amount needed to pay for the bonds?<\/a><\/li>\n
    8. Are property taxes frozen for RISD residents over age 65?<\/a><\/li>\n
    9. What are RISD\u2019s bond ratings and how do they impact the district\u2019s finances? <\/a><\/li>\n
    10. What will happen if Bond 2021 is not approved by voters?<\/a><\/li>\n
    11. Does RISD pay for shorter-life capital items like computers with long-term bonds?<\/a><\/li>\n
    12. What is the average home value in RISD?<\/a><\/li>\n
    13. How do the historically low interest rates impact RISD\u2019s ability to issue bonds?<\/a><\/li>\n
    14. How does RISD\u2019s property tax rate currently compare to other area school districts?<\/a><\/li>\n
    15. How many Texas school districts have issued bonds to pay for capital items?<\/a><\/li>\n
    16. How long has it been since RISD\u2019s last bond election? How much debt does RISD owe from previous bonds?<\/a><\/li>\n
    17. What percent of RISD\u2019s operating budget is spent on central administration?<\/a><\/li>\n
    18. How much of RISD\u2019s operating budget is spent on different functions of the district?<\/a><\/li>\n
    19. Can bond funds be used to pay for teacher or employee salaries?<\/a><\/li>\n
    20. Why doesn\u2019t RISD pay for things like new classrooms or computers from its operating budget instead of borrowing money for capital items?<\/a><\/li>\n
    21. Given the current credit rating and indebtedness in RISD, what is the maximum amount that RISD is eligible to borrow at this time? What is the maximum amount that RISD can borrow without raising the tax rate?<\/a><\/li>\n
    22. When the bond steering committee put together the estimated costs for items in the bond issue, what is the percentage used for padding\/contingency factors for items?<\/a><\/li>\n
    23. If the bond passes, how many bids will be solicited for each line item on the bond issue? Is the winning bid determined only by cost?<\/a><\/li>\n
    24. Each item in the bond has an estimated cost. If the actual cost is less than the estimated cost, does the excess go for unnamed projects or is it used to reduce the debt service?<\/a><\/li>\n
    25. The annual tax statement from RISD does not show any line items. For transparency, could RISD update the tax statement to show one line item for operational costs and another line item for debt service like other taxing entities do?<\/a><\/li>\n
    26. How much money has been spent on bond informational materials like signs, flyers, banners, mailers, etc? Where do those funds come from?<\/a><\/li>\n
    27. Can you provide information on the process that is used to come up with estimated costs for construction projects?<\/a><\/li>\n
    28. If the bond does not pass, would the debt service tax rate eventually go down? If so, when would that occur?<\/a><\/li>\n
    29. Would Bond 2021 be a tax increase? Not a tax rate increase, but a tax increase?<\/a><\/li>\n
    30. What growth is embedded in property values to maintain no changes to the tax rate? How much is due to new construction compared to increases in existing appraised values? If property values grow faster than anticipated, what would the district do?<\/a><\/li>\n
    31. Is there any connection between any bond expenditure (including a school rebuild or school renovation) and a homeowner\u2019s property values?<\/a><\/li>\n
    32. Will whatever funds RISD eventually receives from the federal COVID Relief Packages be used for the items in the bond propositions?<\/a><\/li>\n
    33. Are RISD bond interest payments and principal repayments paid for with any funds other than RISD property tax?<\/a><\/li>\n
    34. What exactly is the local optional homestead exemption and why don’t most other school districts offer it anymore?<\/a><\/li>\n
    35. Is any part of the 2021 bond issue planned as re-issue at current low interest rates of older RISD bonds at higher interest rates?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Voting<\/a><\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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      1. When is Election Day?<\/a><\/li>\n \t
      2. How do I register to vote?<\/a><\/li>\n \t
      3. Can RISD conduct its own election without using Dallas County Elections?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        General Questions <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        1. What is a bond?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Texas independent school districts issue bonds to pay for capital expenditures. Districts repay the bonds through revenue generated from property taxes collected by the district. School district bonds are similar to a home mortgage in that the borrower repays the lender — in this case, investors — over time and in accordance to the terms of the bond sale.<\/p> \n

        Since 1996, Richardson ISD has used a five-year bond cycle, asking stakeholders to approve a bond package to fund needed capital improvements to address student growth, for the district\u2019s aging facilities, and academic program needs.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        2. What is a capital item?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Capital items have a useful life of more than one year, and by law, only capital items can be paid for with the proceeds of bond sales. Examples include, but are not limited to, facility construction or renovation, land acquisition, computers and technology infrastructure, library books, curriculum materials, buses, musical instruments, and uniforms.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        3. How can bond dollars be used?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Under Texas law, proceeds of bond sales may only be used to pay for items with a useful life of more than one year. Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing buildings, land acquisition, technology, buses, musical instruments, uniforms and equipment, among other items. These items include, but are not limited to, facility construction or renovation, computers, library books, curriculum, calculators, musical instruments and uniforms, among others. Bond proceeds may not be used for recurring expenses such as the district\u2019s payroll or utilities.<\/p>

        Much of the proceeds from recent bond packages have funded renovations to RISD facilities, most of which were built more than 50 years ago. Some of the projects funded through bonds this century include: three new elementary schools (Audelia Creek, Carolyn Bukhair, Thurgood Marshall); substantial renovations at 16 campuses; stadium upgrades; construction of multipurpose activity centers at all four high schools; library renovations at all elementary schools; increased security systems at all facilities; and expanded CTE programming.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        4. Was the community involved in determining what projects and items should be included in Bond 2021?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Yes. The projects and items that RISD trustees included in Bond 2021 came at the recommendation of the bond steering committee, which consisted of more than 50 RISD taxpayers, parents, teachers and staff. The group met multiple times in 2020 to study facility, equipment and infrastructure needs before making recommendations to the board after analyzing facilities assessments, enrollment projections, financial data, results of a community survey and other data relevant in creating and maintaining learning environments that align with the RISD mission, vision and goals.<\/p>

        Committee members represented each of RISD\u2019s four learning communities and reviewed projects from previous bond packages among the information studied in making the recommendation. The work of the RISD Bond Steering Committee is detailed on the BSC website.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        5. Does RISD have a long-range bond plan?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Yes. Through the work of the bond steering committee, administration and trustees, there are two related elements to RISD\u2019s long range bond plans.<\/p>